School Report Card

Dear Parkwood Community,

Parkwood Middle School is very excited to welcome you to the 2025-2026 school year! At Parkwood Middle School, we are intentionally focusing on safety, positive culture, literacy and student well-being across the community and we believe that every student can learn. It is our goal to create a challenging learning environment which allows students to reach their full potential and become respectful, responsible, future ready students.

I am writing this letter to let you know that Parkwood Middle School has moved out of low performing  status but is still designated as a Targeted Support & Improvement Additional Targeted Support (TSI-AT) school by the North Carolina State Board of Education. As stated in ESSA Section 1111(d)(2), North Carolina had to identify schools for targeted support and improvement. TSI-AT schools in North Carolina are those that have a subgroup that is under-performing. The intent of this opportunity is to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction.

Legislation (G.S. §115C-83.15) passed during the 2013 long session of the North Carolina General Assembly provides parents with an additional measure of school performance in the form of School Performance Grades. Beginning with the 2013–14 school year, the annual North Carolina School Report Cards display a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F for each school in the state.

The School Performance Grades are based 80 percent on our school’s achievement score (student proficiency) and 20 percent on students’ academic growth. At Parkwood Middle School our achievement score for the 2024-2025  school year is based on how well our students performed on Grades 6–8 Mathematics, Grades 6–8 English Language Arts/Reading and Grade 8 Science.

Parkwood Middle School received a School Performance Grade of C and a growth designation of (Met Expected Growth.) for the 2024-2025 school year. We are proud of the work we have done but we understand that there is still much more work to do. Parkwood Middle will continue the  featured programs (Sustainable Energy Academy, Leader In Me, Peer Group Connections, Portrait of a Graduate, Clubs, Athletics.)

Parkwood Middle School will continue working on the  comprehensive plan that specifically addresses how the school will improve student achievement. The plan will also include how our district will support us and monitor the progress of our school. The comprehensive plan will address the following areas:

• Classroom Management
• Standards-aligned Instruction
• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
• Instructional Leadership
• Recruitment & Retention of Effective Teachers
• Support for Grade-to-Grade Transitions
• Implementation of a Tiered Instructional System
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Student Support Services
• Family and Community Engagement

We have set the following goals for Parkwood Middle School this year:

• Meet or exceed growth as measured by the 2025-2026 NC School Accountability System.
• Attain 8th grade composite (Math, ELA, and Science) proficiency score of 65% as measured by the 2025-2026 NC EOGs
• Reduce Office Discipline Referrals
• Reduce the percentage of students who fail at least one course by the end of the 2024-2025 school year
• Maintain a calculation of 90% schools are a good place to work and learn as measured by the 2025-2026 NCTWCS
• Reduce the percentage of students who are chronically absent

Our students need to experience higher achievement levels, but it will require hard work on the part of staff, students and families. Here are some strategies Parkwood Middle School will be implementing:

• Portrait of a Graduate Framework
• Sustainable Energy Academy
• Leader In Me
• Peer Group Connections
• 7th grade math tutors.
• MTSS Interventions.
• Teacher Tutors during school, before and after school across grade levels.
• Standard based Tier 1 Instruction.
• Data Driven Tier 1 Instruction.
• Professional Development aligned with PLC’s, Standards, and Data Driven Instruction.
• Structured PLC process focusing on district resources.
• Teacher evaluations that are aligned with Portrait of a Graduate and state standards.

Parent engagement is at the heart of our school improvement efforts. Here are some ways you can help:

• Make sure that both you and your student are aware of academic expectations set for your student this school year. A list of learning objectives in student-friendly language is available from your student’s teacher(s).
• Call Parkwood Middle School (704-296-0655) if you have questions or concerns about your student or to set up an appointment to meet with a school staff member who will be working with your student.
• Make sure that your student is prepared and attends school each day.
• Monitor your student’s homework.
• Monitor the progress your student is making and attend meetings with your student’s teacher(s).
• Monitor the progress your student is making and attend meetings with your student’s teacher(s). · Keep track of our website and social media sites [https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/Domain/29, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram].
• Volunteer.
• Join the PTO.

Sounds like a lot but preparing our students so they can succeed is not easy and is a group effort. Here are some resources available to help: · Graduation requirements: www.ncpublicschools.org/gradrequirements/ · K-12 standards in academic subjects: www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/ · State student achievement test results: www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/ · N.C. School Report Cards: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/data-reports/school-report-cards

We’re excited about this school year and are working to make it a success for your student.  Already, we have:

• Leadership opportunities throughout the school community.
• Ongoing celebrations.
• Incentives on student growth.
• Gains on assessment data.

If you have questions about the content of this letter, please contact Jamal McGee at jamal.mcgee@ucps.k12.nc.us or 704-296-0655.

Sincerely,

Jamal T.  McGee, Principal