What is unique about McPherson Elementary School?

McPherson Elementary School is one of 25 elementary schools within the Napa Valley Unified School District.  Across the school district, more than half of elementary students are Latino.  However, as a combined result of neighborhood demographics and the District’s policy of open enrollment, two-thirds of Latino elementary students are enrolled at one of seven “Latino schools.”  These seven schools collectively enroll nearly 2,700 Latino students. The overall result is that Napa schools are highly segregated.

Among the seven “Latino schools,” McPherson has both the highest number and concentration of Latino students. In 2003, McPherson Elementary was assigned “Program Improvement” status (PI). Once a school is placed in PI, they are held to a more stringent system of accountability and assessment by the State for a period of four years.

What new opportunities now exist for students?

• On the Verge Teacher’s Leadership Program: McPherson teachers have taken initiative to improve their school by engaging in OTM’s On The Verge program, which actively builds the leadership capacity of young professionals. Thirteen McPherson teachers have committed to intensively developing their leadership skills while engaging in a school-wide Restructuring Project, dramatically improving educational outcomes for students throughout the school.
• Arts in the classroom: OTM provides a project-based arts program bringing local artists directly into the classroom. Each week a team of professional artists specializing in dance, visual arts and music engage students in a wide array of activities and lessons. When arts programs have been cut throughout California’s public schools, McPherson Elementary students are able to receive high quality arts education and see themselves as creative and competent students.
• Parent Engagement: On the Move has mobilized over 500 parents to take an active role in their child’s education. Parents have volunteered in classrooms, working along side teachers and artists.  Others have attended Science and Art Family Nights – actively learning how to implement learning activities at home. And many others have taken advantage of Parent University –providing a variety of workshops in which parents develop skills and tools to more effectively support their child and family.

What are the results of McPherson Elementary School and On the Move’s efforts?

The results of the many efforts made by McPherson Elementary School staff and On the Move has been profound. Student achievement has drastically improved. Over the 2008-2009 school year, McPherson Elementary School reached all 12 performance goals tracked by the State of California’s AYP score. As a result, the school has officially moved out of Program Improvement status, a cause for great celebration throughout the school.  Teachers are now collaborating on a regular basis and the school is seen as a model PI success not only within the District, but also across the Bay Area Region.