School Improvement & Innovation Plan At A Glance

2023-2024 | Key Middle School | Fairfax County Public Schools | Region 6 

Mr. Drew Campbell, Principal

English Language Arts Strategies

Outcome: Ensure students are making sufficient progress to be on grade level in English Language Arts.

Goal: 

• By June 2024, the unadjusted pass rate of students with disabilities will increase from 24% to 34% across all ELA SOL exams.

Strategy 1

• Develop oral academic language skills with frequent opportunities for students to talk about their reading and writing

Strategy 2

• Increase opportunities to explicitly teach conceptual background knowledge using evidence-based methods (i.e. mind maps, recognize patterns, critical and creative thinking strategies)

Strategy 3

• Utilize small groups and intervention to increase opportunities for students who need more practice to master standards

Mathematics Strategies

Outcome: Ensure students are making sufficient progress to be on grade level in Mathematics.

Goal:

• By June 2024, the percentage of Grade 8 students who qualify for a verified credit in Algebra 1 prior to the start of 9th grade will increase from a 44% to a 51%.

Strategy 1

• Increase students' self-efficacy around the ability to be successful in mathematics.

Strategy 2

• Improve teachers’ implementation of the Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.

Strategy 3

• Increase Math 7 Honors course opportunities and include team-taught sections.

Wellness Strategies

Outcome: Ensure students feel safe, included, and supported in the school environment.

Goal: 

• By the end of the school year, Key MS will reduce the percentage of chronically absent students from 24.1% to less than 18%.

Strategy 1

• Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.

Strategy 2

• Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community.

Strategy 3

• Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.

Science Strategies

Outcome: Ensure students are making sufficient progress to be on grade level in Science.

Goal: 

• By June 2024, the overall pass rate on the Science 8 SOL exam will increase from a 43% to a 70%.

Strategy 1

• Use discourse strategies to increase students' academic conversations

Strategy 2

• Increase frequency of student learning experiences that are inquiry-based and hands-on

Strategy 3

• Schedule ESOL teacher push-in for ELD instruction during science instructional time

Strategy 4

• Learning Readiness: Consistently provide instructional and social-emotional supports and scaffolds necessary to access learning at high levels

Strategy 5

• Utilize small groups and intervention to increase opportunities for students who need more practice to master standards