Looking back on the accomplishments over the past two years, Ft. King Middle School staff and students should feel very proud.  In 2016-2017, our school grade went up from a D to a C, and we almost pulled off a B.  Even though we missed a grade of B by 2% in 2017, the growth measured that year was the highest in the district for middle schools.  Our Total Points Earned on our school grade increased by 17% over the past two years, which turned out to be 151 points on a 900-point scale.  This past year in 2017-2018, FKMS increased the Total Points Earned again by an additional 5%, which allowed FKMS to earn a school grade of B!  We are currently the second ranked middle school in Marion County, as measured by Florida School Grades – 2018.

The growth experienced over the past two years came from all areas.  Our Math Department pulled in 99 points by increasing our proficiency rate from 42% to 53%, by increasing our overall learning gains from 47% to 67%, and by increasing our learning gains from our lowest quartile from 37% to 66%.  The bulk of the points came in the name of Acceleration Points, which are the points our Algebra I students earn by taking the State EOC and earning a level 3 or higher score.  Ft. King doubled the classes offered in Algebra I and still had an 87% proficiency rate.  Our math teachers did an outstanding job all the way through the department.  The Title I budget and plan implemented last year paid off with the addition of two new Intensive Math Teachers.

Our ELA teachers added an additional 27 points to the cause by increasing our proficiency rate from 39% to 44%, by increasing our overall learning gains from 41% to 51%, and by increasing our learning gains from our lowest quartile from 36% to 48%.

Our School Grade picked up a whopping 14 points from our 7th Grade Civics teachers and students.  The proficiency rate for Civics increased from 51% in 2016 to 65% in 2018.  These scores put us in fourth place in the district in the Social Studies category.

Our Science Department would not be left out of the mix either.  They managed to increase the proficiency rate from 39% in 2016 to 50% in 2018, adding 11 more points to the School Grade.  Our Science scores were ranked the third highest in the district.

It will be a challenge to maintain all of the growth from 2016 to 2018 and to increase our Total Points Possible another 5%, but our teachers and students will be up to the challenge of taking the next step towards earning an A in 2018-2019. 

Our academic plan will stay the same in 2018-2019, and we will continue with a six-period schedule, which added eight minutes to each class period.  We feel the additional eight minutes contributed greatly to our success academically last year.  We will be offering a new elective called AVID this school year and hope to build more sections into next year’s master schedule.  AVID is an elective that helps students get organized, teaches them to track their grades, how to take good notes, how to study and how to plan for a college or career path.  We are very excited to offer AVID to our students and to provide our teachers with training on AVID teaching strategies.  We will share more information to our students and parents as the program grows this school year.

Students are required to pass each of four core classes in grades 6-8 before going to high school.  ELA, Math, Social Studies and Science have to be made up by students if the class is failed.  If your child has an F for the final grade for a semester, we will start looking at ways to make up the class.  One way to make up a failed course is to drop an elective class and pick up a unit recovery course in a computer lab.  Summer school is an option, but most students don’t want to spend their summer in a lab at one of our area high schools.  Please keep a close eye on your child’s grades by signing up for Family Access or by having your child show you their grades through their Student Desktop.

I look forward to meeting each of you as the year progresses.  I maintain an open door policy, which means you don’t need an appointment to see me, if I am available.  Please don’t hesitate to call me if you need help with any situation.  If I am not the person to help you, I will steer you in the right direction.  Together, as a team, we will make this year a great experience for your children.