Remedial programs proving to be effective for Maricopa Wells

Maricopa Wells Middle School has added 102 students and seen tremendous progress among the students enrolled in remedial math and reading classes during the 2014-15 school year.

Members of the MWMS staff gave a presentation on the success of their remedial math and reading programs at the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board meeting on Wednesday. The presentation demonstrated the growth in the school, and the effectiveness of the remedial math and reading programs.

In the math classes, the seventh grade students have shown great progress. Nearly 80 percent of the students met or exceeded the pre-test benchmark. Of the “targeted” students (those the school sees as the lowest 25 percent), 93 percent met or exceeded pre-test benchmarks.

The eighth grade side has also seen improvements, but not at the same rapid rate. Forty-two percent of the students have met or exceeded the pre-test benchmarks. The targeted students have seen a bit more success with 46 percent of those students meeting or exceeding the pre-test benchmark.

“We are making good progress here,” Maricopa Wells Middle School Principal Rick Abel said. “It’s a very lofty goal, but we are making our way to that 100 percent spot.”

Tutoring from teachers and high school students has also helped the school lower its failing rate among math classes by 41 percent. Approximately 150 students receive a second math class. The Ak-Chin Grant the school received before the school year provides the funding for this program.

“I tell these kids that when I was in seventh grade I was in a remedial math class,” Maricopa Wells Middle School teacher Keith Gibson said. “The only thing I try to do is let them understand that I’ve been in the same place. It changes their attitude toward math. They don’t love it, they don’t hate it, and they’re willing to do it.”

On the reading side of the program, the goal remains the same of 100 percent of the student body meeting or exceeding the Galileo Post-Test benchmark. For the seventh graders, 47 percent of the students have met or exceeded the pre-test benchmark, and 64 percent of the targeted group has met or exceeded as well. Among eighth graders, 60 percent of the students are meeting or exceeding the pre-test benchmark, and 76 percent of the targeted group have met or exceeded as well.

“There’s a saying that ‘it takes a village,’” Maricopa Wells Middle School teacher Treva Jenkins said, “Well we have science teachers and social studies teachers doing great work to support our reading goals.”

The students involved in the remedial and after-school programs have been provided with transportation home. This is only guaranteed until April 2. The school is trying to work the budget to allow this to continue.

Another aspect of the presentation was the immense growth inside Maricopa Wells. During the 2014-15 school year, the school has seen 102 students enroll since the start of the school year began. This is one-fifth of the school’s current population of 503 students.

***ADVERTISEMENT***The school planned for 453 students to start the year. At its peak, Maricopa Wells had 521 students. Since the start of the year, 76 of the original student body left, but 102 new students have come in for a net gain of 26 students.

“We have tremendous diversity on our campus, and it’s one of the pleasures of going to school every day,” Abel said. “These new students come from different places and different environments, and it’s really fun to have them come in. We welcome them, and our kids and staff are great about welcoming them as well.”