Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Middle school makeovers focus on engagement
Job skills, more electives among ideas for change
South Florida students may soon attend a new type of middle school, where they learn job skills, take more electives and get less homework.
Middle school serves students in grades six to eight — the time when students are least engaged and parents are the least satisfied, school officials say. So they are looking at a makeover.
“Kids don’t really feel the passion and excitement of being in middle school that they do when they are in high school, nor the connection they do when they are in elementary school. A lot of times they’re bored,” said David Christiansen, deputy superintendent for Palm Beach County schools. “You can’t fool parents. If they perceive their
children aren’t excited about school, they’re going to consider other options.”
To keep that from happening, they are looking at changes that include:
Different class schedules. Instead of six of the same classes every day, they may rotate classes over two or three days. Officials are also considering shortening or lengthening classes at different times of the year, to give students larger blocks of time to do science projects, research and class presentations.
Creating more K-8 schools to eliminate what is often an abrupt transition from elementary school.
Cutting the amount of homework.
Providing more career training, including opportunities to become certified in certain computer and technology fields.
Giving students more time for electives and extracurricular activities.
Training all staff, from janitors to the principal, to become mentors and help students better cope with social and emotional issues.
Ending the practice of placing students into highlevel classes before they’re ready. Middle schools have been accused of this because it helps improve a school’s letter grade.
In addition to efforts by local school districts, the state also is looking for ways to improve middle schools. The state Legislature this year authorized $50,000 for the state Department of Education to study what is working well for middle schools in other states.
Broward County
The district has heard a lot of complaints that middle school students aren’t feeling inspired.
While none of its middle schools is rated D or F, about half are C-rated. And the gap between the highestand lowest-performing students has widened, officials said.
In an effort to make a difference, Broward is considering schedule changes that would allow students to take more elective classes.
This year, New Renaissance Middle in Miramar switched to a rotating block schedule where students take eight classes — four on one day and four the next. This has allowed students to take electives such as broadcasting, computer technology, dance, band, creative writing and debate. Enrollment has increased by about 100 since last year, including many students who attended charter schools.
“One thing I keep hearing over and over is, ‘My friend said we get three or four electives. That’s why I’m coming back,’ ” said Janet Morales, principal of New Renaissance Middle.
Another complaint the district might address is the large amount of homework students are given.
“Homework is a huge cause of stress. They’re spending hours and hours on it,” School Board member Laurie Rich Levinson said. “When does it stop? When do kids get to be kids?”
Part of that is a push to get more middle school students to take high school or even college-level classes.
Schools can get a higher letter grade from the state if they have more students taking high-level classes.
Chief Academic Officer Dan Gohl said parents can veto these placements, but often they like to “brag about the difficult classes” their children are taking.
Palm Beach County
In Palm Beach County, 42 percent of the middle schools are rated C or D, but the district decided it needed to take dramatic action when it saw a lack of enthusiasm in a B-rated school.
Odyssey Middle, west of Boynton Beach, was successful at improving the academic performance of struggling students, Christiansen said. But parents of higher-achieving students fled and the school is closing.
“One theme we did hear was: ‘Where is the enrichment? Where are the arts? Where are the extra electives?’ ” Christiansen said. “While the school did very well academically, you do have to show kids they’ll have the ability to get connected.”
The district is reviewing ways to give middle school students access to plenty of electives and extracurricular activities, he said.
“We want to make sure they have a sense of belonging and connection,” he said.
Another change coming: The district has one K-8 school and is adding middle school grades to Hidden Oaks Elementary in Lake Worth and Addison Mizner Elementary in Boca Raton. Christiansen said the district could have as many as 20 in the next five years.
Miami-Dade County
There is a major community effort underway to redesign middle schools.
The district recently interviewed students, who voiced a wide range of concerns. They said they wanted more electives, more access to technology and a better connection to their teachers. They said it was tough to go from one teacher in elementary to six in middle school.
“These kids are going through the biggest changes emotionally, physiologically and socially of their lives,” said chief academic officer Marie Izquierdo.
The district is drafting a major overhaul of middle schools and hopes to launch pilot schools in the fall.
It’s still unclear what the new school will look like, but it could involve a complete change in student schedules, Izquiedro said. Instead of having a onehour class every day, some could be shorter or longer during different times of the year.
On some days, they might be combined if English, math and science are all relevant to a particular lesson.
All school staff would be trained to serve as student mentors. And the district is looking at ways to provide more electives, such as cooking, computer coding and financial literacy. The plan may include ways to ensure that low-income students have more access to technology, including keeping libraries open longer.
After the plan is developed, the district will try to find ways to pay for it, including seeking donations and partnerships through businesses and community organizations.