Scofield Magnet Middle School

Scofield Magnet Middle School (SMMS) is an middle school based in Stamford, Connecticut. The school has 700 students in Grades 6–8.

Despite receiving numerous awards, the school was cited for "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading" in the state Education Department's No Child Left Behind Act report, released in August 2006.

In the summer of 2007 it was announced that the school's forth principal in three years, Mrs. Rossman, was to be transferred from Rippowam Middle School, trading places with Rippowam's Jan Rossman, who would become principal of Scofield. The moves were part of schools Superintendent Joshua Starr's policy of broadening administrators' experiences. One leader of the Scofield school's Parent Teacher Partnership said she worried that, yet again, Scofield would be getting a principal who would be spending a "transition year" getting used to running the school. Rossman, however, was previously an assistant principal at the school.Gosier, Chris, "Scofield parents upset by principal change", news article, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, July 9, 2007, pp 1, A4]

Scofield's curriculum focuses on math, science, and technology. There are several computer labs and even a TV studio. The school has eight different academic teams: the Turquoise and White Teams are sixth graders; Silver and Black are seventh graders; Purple and Gold are eighth graders; Copper is for ESL students; and the Red Team is for Special Education students).

The school is unique in the Stamford public school system in that there is no grouping based on academic performance, a policy known as tracking. It is also unique in the district because teachers collaborate with each other on scheduling as well as on instruction.

Scofield is a member of the National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University, the Department of Education Partnership for family Involvement in Education, and the Connecticut School-Family-Community Partnership. [http://www.magnetmiddle.org/pages/award.htm] Web page titled "Working Together for Student Success" at the Scofield Magnet Middle School official Web site, accessed July 18, 2007]

Awards and recognition

In June 2007, the New England League of Middle Schools named Scofield one of four "spotlight schools" in recognition of its environmental curriculum, parental involvement, and teacher qualifications among other factors.

The school also has been named one of the top six most improved schools in Fairfield County shown by minority students. [cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-29166632_ITM|title=Schools crack top 10 on progress list.|author=Fenwick, Alexandra|publisher="Stamford Advocate"|date=2007-01-06|accessdate=2008-05-17]

In 2007, the National Network of Partnership at Johns Hopkins University recognized the school "as an excellent program of school family partnership", according to the school Web site. In 2006, the school was a finalist for the Disney Learning Partnership Spotlight School of the Year Award.

The media specialist , Annea Rosenburg, won the Carlton W.H. Erickson award.

However, despite the many awards that the staff and school has received, students in Scofield tend to do as poorly as all other schools in Stamford. They do not meet the nation requirement and it has been shown in recent statistics that less that 20% of Scofield's students go to a college. Scofield being the best of all schools, and being a magnet school show that the rest of Stamford is doing pathetically, with less than 2% of the students from their middle schools going to college.

Recycling Project

Scofield is now undergoing a recycling project. Because its students produce such a large amount of trash (average 27 bags per day), Scofield will now be recycling paper, bottles, and not wanted food. This project will hopefully cut down the amount of trash that Scofield has each day. The local news station, News 12 Connecticut, broadcast a special report on the school's initiative. Many of the students are exited about the recycling project because it gives them a chance to help the environment.Fact|date=May 2008

Referencess

ee also

* Education in Stamford, Connecticut

External links

* [http://www.magnetmiddle.org school website]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/ct/873 Scofield Magnet Middle School information at Great Schools website]