1985-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Superintendent of Schools team, including both Clarke and Diamond Junior High students, also claimed championship status as they beat the Wellesley METCO team. Lexington High School METCO students Jamal Smith and Cecelia Delgardo were selected to work with the State Department of Education Promising Practices Committee. This committee reviewed Chapter 636 Programs in the state and organized a state -wide conference. In collaboration with other METCO community pro- grams, Lexington co- sponsored educational, cultural and social events for students and staff. Among these were the Black College Tour, the METCO Senior Trip, a conference on The Black Urban Child in the Suburban School Setting and several successful com- munity social activities. After eight years with Lexington, John Modest re- signed as coordinator of the Lexington METCO program to resettle in North Carolina. The new Lexington METCO coordinator, Cheryl Prescott, brings eleven years of experience working with students, families and staff in a variety of settings, including METCO systems, public and private agencies. Chapter I Summer Program. With Federal Chapter I funds, the system provided a Language Arts Program for 120 students grades K to 6, for five weeks at the Bridge School. Adult and Community Education. In 1984 -85, course offerings increased by 50 percent to 143 courses; enrollment increased 76 percent to a total of 1842 students. Some courses are sponsored in cooperation with other agencies such as the Lexington Senior Center or the Computer Works of Cambridge. Classes include late afternoon /evening sessions, daytime classes for adults, afternoon classes for children and young adults; and at each elementary school, Thursday Afternoon School for Grades K to 6. During July, Adult and Community Education sponsored computer camps for grades 4 to 8 and a music camp for elementary, junior high and senior high school students. Project L.E.A.P. (Lexington's Educational Arts Program). The following events were scheduled throughout the Lexington Public Schools, coordinated by Visual Arts Chairperson, Paul Ciano: during 1984 -85: "Don Quixote" by the Poobley Greedgy Puppet Theatre for elementary students; potter Tina Forbes, featuring the history and creation of Raku ceramic ware for secondary students; mini - concerts by soprano Marguerite Upton and composer -in -resi- dence Ronald Maltais for elementary students; Dance Prism pilot residency throughout the schools; students' art work based on productions at the Opera Company of Boston co- sponsored by the Opera Guild; photographer -in- residence Jonathan Brown at the High School; University of Massachusetts Dance Ensemble performing in every school; Carolyn Latanisian, watercolorist -in- residence throughout the schools. During the 1985 -86 school year, the Dance Prism Company is in residency throughout the Lexington Public School District. In December, students, staff 32 Education and townspeople participated with the company in a performance of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker," Acts I and II. Simultaneously a system -wide K to 12 visual arts students' exhibit was on display in the high school foyer. Foreign Exchange Teachers. Once again Lexington is hosting two foreign exchange teachers sponsored by the United States Information Agency under the Fulbright Commission. Doris Dordel from Koln, Germany, is teaching physical education at Lexington High School; Daniel Murphy, of Worcestershire, England, is teaching visual arts at the Clarke Junior High School. These teachers have traded places for the 1985 -1986 school year with two Lexington teachers, LHS special education teacher Jeffrey Glew and Clarke visual arts teacher Brenda Sullivan. ADMINISTRATION Enrollments. As of January 1, 1985, 93 percent of age - eligible Lexington children attended the public schools; the January, 1986 percentage is expected to be similar. The October 1st enrollments for Lexington Public Schools totaled 4713. This was 35 more students (or a .74 percent margin of error) than projected in the previous fall. The 1986 -87 projections indicate a further decline of 162 stu- dents or a 3.44 percent drop for a total anticipated body of 4551 next year. Enrollments 1975 -1985. Between 1975 and 1985, the total grades K to 12 enrollment declined 41 percent from 7992 students in 1975 to 4713 students in 1985. The average decline each year in the total K to 12 population was 5.2 percent; between 1984 and 1985 enrollments declined 4.8 percent. Further analysis indicates the acceleration of en- rollment decline has varied by grade groupings. In grades K to 6, the decline appears to have leveled off, with the two lowest rates of decline occurring in the past two years: 1.2 percent less in 1984 and .5 percent in 1985. Whereas in grades 7 to 9, the decline appears to have peaked, with the highest rate of decline in 1984, at 10.8 percent, and in 1985, at 9.1 percent. However, in grades 10 to 12 the rate of decline continues to vary from year to year showing little predictable shape. 1985 -1986 1986 -1987 School Actual Projected Bowman 404 366 Bridge 404 475 Estabrook 425 402 Fiske 274 330 Harrington 291 244 Hastings 304 0 Total elementary 2102 1817 Clarke 586 501 Diamond 586 440 Total junior high 1172 941 Lexington High 1439 1793 Grand Total 4713 4551 Enrollments 1975 -1985. Between 1975 and 1985, the total grades K to 12 enrollment declined 41 percent from 7992 students in 1975 to 4713 students in 1985. The average decline each year in the total K to 12 population was 5.2 percent; between 1984 and 1985 enrollments declined 4.8 percent. Further analysis indicates the acceleration of en- rollment decline has varied by grade groupings. In grades K to 6, the decline appears to have leveled off, with the two lowest rates of decline occurring in the past two years: 1.2 percent less in 1984 and .5 percent in 1985. Whereas in grades 7 to 9, the decline appears to have peaked, with the highest rate of decline in 1984, at 10.8 percent, and in 1985, at 9.1 percent. However, in grades 10 to 12 the rate of decline continues to vary from year to year showing little predictable shape.