PBealo
Site Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
|
 Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:00 pm Post subject: TRHS Pareents' Survey Results |
 |
|
INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS
OF THE 2007 HIGH SCHOOL PARENT SURVEY
Most of the people who responded are parents of top students (70% accelerated classes) who live in Atkinson (58%) and they vote! This self-selected group of respondents isn't representative of Timberlane's parent population.
Top-line results:
1. A significant number of respondents (44%) do not believe TRHS considers parents as partners in students' educational progress.
2. Only 12% think the quality of a TRHS education had improved in the past 3-5 years. 44% say it has declined, while 35% say it has stayed the same.
3. Clearly performing arts (76%) and athletics (56%) are viewed as TRHS strengths. (Note these activities have strong parent booster clubs.)
4. Academics are viewed as in need of improvement (70%) as are facilities (44%) and teacher/staff (42%).
5. Academic competence (77%) and strong communication skills (65%) are believed to be the most important attributes a Timberlane student should possess for life after graduation.
6. 65% of parents would prefer to hear about TRHS news and info via e-mail sent directly to them. 33% say that if e-mail were used as the main method of communication between school and home they would become more involved in TRHS activities.
While respondents give TRHS performing arts and athletics high marks, there is a great concern that academics are lacking. These parents believe very strongly that academic competence, with communication skills a close second, are the most important attributes for students to possess upon graduation.
It’s also evident that parents will be more supportive if they believe they were better connected to TRHS. While many parents feel a connection to the teachers, they perceive a disconnect with the HS administration and with the district office because there is little or no direct contact.
Informed and involved parents = supportive voters!
Respectfully submitted,
Anne Isenberg and Kate Delfino
HS Strategic Planning Subcommittee
Detailed Results of the High School Parent Survey
Conducted by e-mail in April 2008
Profile of respondents (43 total)
The majority of people who responded were between the ages 35 and 50 (81%).
67% of respondents were female vs. 33% male.
Geographic distribution: Atkinson 58%, Danville 21%, Plaistow 7%, Sandown 14%.
Voting habits: 86% always vote in their town elections, 14% usually vote in their elections.
A majority of their students are in the accelerated curriculum (70%), some in the college prep curriculum (28%) and a few on the vocational career track (2%).
Opinions of respondents
Q7. How important is parental involvement in your child’s education?
Extremely important: 60%
Very important: 37%
Somewhat important: 2%
Q8. Overall, do you believe TRHS considers parents as partners in students’ educational progress?
No: 44%
Yes: 37%
Don’t know: 19%
Comments – “partnership with teachers but not with the administration.”
Q9. How satisfied are you with your level of involvement in your child’s education?
Very satisfied: 44%
Somewhat satisfied: 33%
Extremely satisfied: 14%
Not satisfied: 9%
Q10. In your opinion, do you believe the quality of a TRHS education has improved, declined or stayed the same over the past 3-5 years?
Declined: 44%
Stayed the same: 35%
Don’t know: 14%
Improved: 12%
Comments – “Quality stayed the same for accelerated students; declined for all others”
Q11. Tell us what are the strengths of TRHS?
Performing arts: 76%
Athletics: 56%
Tie: safety/security and clubs/special interests 25%
Comments: “Great guidance counselors”
“Performing arts are superb”
“Great athletics program, however girls’ athletics don’t get an equal share.”
“Special ed department is excellent, very caring, very on-the-ball.”
Q12. Tell us what needs improvement at TRHS?
Academics: 70%
Facilities: 44%
Teachers & Staff: 42%
Communications: 32%
Parent input & involvement: 30%
(Respondents were allowed multiple answers so values won’t total 100%)
Comments – (from a teacher) “No expectations from home, parents not involved in child’s progress.”
“Need to be less tolerant of bullying.”
“School board/administration not demanding tough academic standards.”
“Lack of cohesion between middle school and high school – teachers don’t meet, don’t talk. Same for 5th to 6th grade – where’s the consistency?”
“We’ve lost many good teachers over the years.”
“Accelerated’ is watered-down.”
“Talks with guidance about colleges should begin a year earlier.”
“The HS won’t let ROTC in, what a loss of great opportunities for our students.”
Q13. Overall, what are the most important attributes a Timberlane student should possess so that s/he is prepared for life after graduation?
Academic competence: 77%
Strong communications skills: 65%
Ability to work with others/team player: 32%
Ability to take risks: 30%
Strong critical thinking skills: 26%
(Respondents were allowed multiple answers so values won’t total 100%)
Q14. Where do you get most of your information about current news and events at TRHS?
My child/student: 53% sometimes
Other parents: 21% sometimes
Local newspaper: 18% sometimes
Teachers: 14% sometimes
Website: 14% sometimes
(Values won’t total 100%)
“Website needs to be updated more often.”
“Principal’s letter isn’t timely.”
“I keep watching the Timberlane channel.”
“I love Power School.”
“Teachers aren’t timely with Power School.”
Q15. How satisfied are you about your sources of information about news and events going on at TRHS?
Mostly dissatisfied: 44%
Mostly satisfied: 41%
Very satisfied: 9%
Very dissatisfied: 5%
Q16. How would you prefer to hear about TRHS news and information?
E-mail: 65%
TRHS website: 47%
My child/student: 19%
Q17. If TRHS used e-mail as the main method of communicating news and information, do you think it would change your participation in TRHS activities?
More involved: 33%
Stay the same: 30%
Don’t know: 9%
ADDITIONAL comments:
“Academics should be the priority, not extra-curricular activities.”
“Timberlane test scores [NECAP] were very disappointing.”
“Need more focus on preparing students for life in college and beyond. SAT scores need to be increased to be competitive within the state, region and nation. Students need more skills on how to succeed in college. Too many cases of good students not getting into colleges or having huge academic adjustments when they go to college. Being state wrestling champs or the best band in NE doesn’t help them a hoot.”
“Timberlane should provide SAT prep classes.”
“Too many early release days and days off, not much gets done in the classroom. Also hard to manage for working parents.”
“Eliminate early release days. Schedule professional development as a whole day off and/or when school is not in session.”
“Need better qualified teachers actually teaching and providing extra support at all times.”
“Stop changing the curriculum so often, students lose continuity which causes holes in their education.”
“Need more writing, grammar and vocabulary in HS English classes.”
“No more nonacademic field trips (i.e. Canobie Lake Park), no more nonacademic assemblies, minimize teacher out-of-class time. Provide tutoring after school. Do homework at home, not at school, that is for instructional time.”
“Some teachers are excellent, but many do not “teach”. For a current gov’t class they are watching TV every day. They should be discussing current events and they’re not!”
“School should add an “honors” class (in addition to AP) beginning the freshman year for students who excel academically.”
“Students should be brought in to discuss their concerns with administration. They have a lot to say.”
“Excellent guidance department.”
“School needs to promote college at a younger age. Springtime is too late for some students to “catch up” on grades. This year the deadline had already passed for SAT registration… bad timing on someone’s part! Parents are depending more on other parents for info, not the school.” “School needs to better reward and acknowledge students if they excel academically.”
“Allow students credit if they play a sport, let them opt out of gym/health/wellness and take something they really want to learn about.”
“We need to know more about block scheduling. How is this the answer to improving academics?”
“Block scheduling should be phased in over a few years, the school is rushing this and the students are going to pay the price.”
“I’m concerned about block scheduling – what are modifications for all subjects and departments? Also, big concern re: more space and more teachers, how will that work?”
# # # |
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
