Wicomico County Public Schools

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Imagine 2022

Dear Families and Community Stakeholders,

On behalf of the Wicomico County Board of Education, it is my honor to present

to you the Annual Report for Wicomico County Public Schools, a reflection on

the 2017-2018 school year and a view into the future – Achieve! 3.0.

Today’s students are preparing for a very complex world beyond high school. In

2016, Wicomico County Public Schools established Vision Points, which

encompass core ideals. These Vision Points give our system its shape and provide

a roadmap for our future success. In 2017, we launched Imagine 2022

establishing the details of that roadmap – the strategic priorities and actions that

will propel us forward in developing a world-class school system that provides

each child, Prekindergarten through Grade 12, a strong foundation in the skills

and knowledge that will lead to prosperity and achievement.

The achievements reflected on these pages are the result of the collective

commitment of our students, staff, families, and community partners. Our

students deserve the best. I look forward to our continued collaboration in

providing an outstanding educational program that sets every Wicomico County

student on a path to lifelong success.

A Message from the Superintendent

Table of Contents

ANNUAL REPORT Wicomico Schools at a Glance 4

Enrollment 4-5

Demographics 6

Food Services & Transportation 7

Staff 8

Construction & Finance 9

Progress Toward Goals 10

Kindergarten Readiness 10

Graduation Rate 11

Teacher Retention 12

Other Important Data Points 13-14

Notable Staff & Student Accomplishments 15-16

ACHIEVE! 3.0 Vision Points 17

2019 Strategic Priorities 18-20

BOARD OF EDUCATION 21

At a Glance

Headcount, as of September 30, 2018

Headcount, of September 30, 2018

6,053

8,311

1,666 1,718

302 1,114

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

2004 2018School Year

Targeted Student Populations EnglishLanguageLearners

Students withSpecialEducationServices

StudentsReceiving Freeand ReducedMeals

RemainingStudents

13,588 *FTE

59.077.6

14,367 *FTE

*FTE - Full Time EquivalentFor State Aid

As of September 30, 2018

Food Services Notes

• Total Breakfasts Served - 966,381 • Total Lunches Served - 1,334,374 • Total Dinners Served - 30,869 • Total Meals Served - 2,331,624

Transportation Statistics

• Number of School Buses – 158 • Number of Students Transported Daily – 13,117 • Number of Miles Driven Annually – 1.9 million • Number of Routes – 290

Wicomico County

Public Schools

Staff Total Full-time Staff Members – 2,308

All Staff* with Bachelor’s Degrees – 71%

All Staff* with Master’s Degrees – 40.7%

All Staff* with Doctoral Degrees – 1.1%

National Board-Certified Teachers – 31

Average Teacher Salary – $61,894

*Includes all teachers, administrators, and support staff

Spending Responsibly

FY 2018 General Fund Expenditures by Category Instructional Programs 61.24% Special Education 11.65% Operation of Plant 8.50% Transportation 4.99% Administration 3.31% Student Health & Pupil Services 2.68% Maintenance of Plant 2.51% Food Services 0.32% Other 4.79%

Celebrating as a Community

See WCPS Transparency Portal for additional financial information.

Goal 1: Increase the percentage of students who enter kindergarten ready to learn from 33% to at least 38% by 2022 as measured by the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA).

Kindergarten Readiness According to the Maryland Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA), 47% of the county’s children who entered Kindergarten classrooms in 2017 demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to fully participate in the Kindergarten curriculum – 2 points above the statewide average.

18%16%

37%38%

45%47%

Wicomico

Maryland

Maryland

Maryland

Wicomico

Wicomico

Demonstrating

Approaching

Emerging

• Increased opportunities for Prekindergarten enrollment • Focused attention on KRA data to identify areas of strength and challenges within

each school and district-wide • Increased parent communication about the standards of instruction to ensure

understanding of school readiness • Delivered professional development for childcare providers on instruction that

leads to school readiness, with emphasis on areas of challenge per the KRA data

Progress Toward Goals

Totals may not equal 100% due to rounding

81.09

81.98

84.44

83.53

81.51

83.79

79 80 81 82 83 84 85

Class of 2012

Class of 2013

Class of 2014

Class of 2015

Class of 2016

Class of 2017

Class of 2018

PERCENT OF STUDENTS GRADUATED

4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate

• Added NexGen STEM signature program at Salisbury Middle School and expanded CTE and arts offerings including Interactive Media and VPA Performance Theater

• Increased emphasis on non-traditional graduation pathways including expanded Evening High School, Summer School, credit recovery programs, and online learning opportunities

• Added home-school liaisons

in high schools to provide support for truancy and dropout prevention

• Focused on early

intervention and support for repeating 9th grade students (guided study halls, creative scheduling, CTE, etc.)

Goal 2: Increase the percentage of students who enter Grade 9 and graduate 4 years later from 82% to at least 87% as measured by the 4-Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate.

Goal 3: Decrease the 3-Year Average Turnover Rate from more than 20% to at most 15% by 2022 by recruiting and retaining a high performing teaching workforce.

• Increased local recruitment efforts including local and regional job fairs • Expanded communication with beginning teachers with focus on responding to

survey feedback about their experiences in WCPS • Increased collaboration with Salisbury University and the University of Maryland

Eastern Shore relative to the teacher shortage and specific areas of need • Continued expansion of the Teacher Academy of Maryland Program in WCPS high

schools

14.8

5%

9.80

%

8.91

%

23.7

6%

12.1

1%

23.7

6%

15 -16 16-17 17-18

CUM

ULA

TIVE

PER

CEN

TAG

E O

F LO

SS

COHORT OF TEACHERS BY INITIAL YEAR OF HIRE

3-YEAR NEW TEACHER TURNOVER RATES

Loss at End of 1st Year

Cumulative Loss End of 2nd Year

Total Cumulative Loss End of 3rd Year

State Assessments In the Spring of 2018, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) was administered to students in Maryland. Students in grades 3-8 participated in English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments. Students enrolled in the high school courses Algebra I and II, and/or English 10 and 11, also participated in the state assessment.

Other Important Data Points

2018 STAR RATINGS

Scholarship Monies

offered to 2018

Graduates

$17,936,565

23 = Number of AP Courses Offered

1,090 = Number of AP Exams Taken

690 = Number of Students Taking Exams

45% = Exams Scored at 3 or Higher

108 = Number of AP Scholars

Advanced Placement

(AP)

SAT

Mean Total SAT Score = 976 Mean Total Verbal Score = 492 Mean Total Math Score = 484

Notable Accomplishments

WCPS was presented with the Flame of Excellence Award by the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore for successful

and creative fund-raising efforts.

Salisbury Middle School teacher Tara Elliott received

the 2018 Christine D. Sarbanes Teacher of the Year

Award from the Maryland Humanities Council.

Fruitland and Westside intermediate schools were

recognized as new MD Green Schools by the MD

Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education.

WCPS was recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation as one

of the Best Communties for Music Education in the

country.

Prince Street, North Salisbury, and Westside Intermediate schools received Maryland

Character Education School of the Year Awards.

Robotics Club VEX Team 3389D qualified for and

competed in the VEX Robotics World Championship.

Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Emily Shank

(Pittsville/BMS) was recognized as the

Outstanding Teacher in Middle School in the Financial

Education Awards Program.

Prince Street Elementary was named a Let's Move! Active

School National Award winner for

2016-17 & 2017-18.

Bennett Middle School teacher James McCrobie was named the Maryland Society for Educational Technology 2018 Outstanding Educator

Using Technology.

The FFA Chapter of the Horticulture program at

Parkside High School CTE was ranked #1 in Maryland in the

FFA National Quality Standards Award Program.

Parkside student Joshua McKelvey won the national

gold medal in Electronics Technology for the second straight year at the 2018

SkillsUSA National Championships.

Governor Larry Hogan presented North Salisbury

T.A.D. students with a citation for drafting a bill to declare an

official Maryland Spotted Turtle Awareness Day.

Pittsville students Jonathan Lombardo and Aidan Williams had their Maryland egg design featured at the 140th annual

White House Easter Egg Roll in April 2018.

Fifteen Project Lead the Way seniors and instructor David

Miles were recognized as PLTW Pioneers. Five students earned

AP+PLTW Student Achievement Recognition.

Six Destination Imagination teams competed in the 2018

Global Finals. A North Salisbury team, Mini

Marvelous Marshmallows, won 5th place in this global

competition.

North Salisbury Elementary student Savanna Brooks won

the first National Kindness Speech Contest.

Wicomico Public Libraries' Light of Literacy Awards went to Joan Cooper, JMB English

teacher (Educator Luminary), and Rehman Liaqat, JMB

student (Youth Luminary).

Pittsville Elementary and Middle School custodial staff, under the leadership of Mona

Lisa Price, earned a 2017 Governor's Citation for

Superior Maintenance of Schools.

David Harner, Supervisor of Secondary and STEM

Initiatives, received the June E. Streckfus Leadership in

Education Award from the Maryland Business Roundtable

for Education.

Melinda Demaris, teacher of the visually impaired, received the Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award from the

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.

Artwork by O

luschi Harm

on, Visual and Performing Arts Program

Achieve! 3.0

2019 Strategies

Achieve! 3.0

Board of Education

The Wicomico County Board of Education and Wicomico County Public Schools are committed to providing the best education possible for all

students and to establishing the means by which each and every student can learn. The Wicomico County Board of Education believes that education is the backbone for a successful and well-rounded life, and strives to ensure

that students grow intellectually, personally, and socially.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Wicomico County Public School System is to provide all students an educational foundation and a set of skills which will enable

them to become responsible and productive citizens in our society.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to educate each student to his or her full potential. Wicomico County Public Schools (WCPS) prohibits illegal discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, immigration status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender

expression, sexual orientation, family/parental status, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, poverty and socioeconomic status, language, or other legally or constitutionally protected

attributes or affiliations, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Discrimination undermines our community’s long-standing efforts to create, foster, and

promote equity, inclusion, and acceptance for all.