Last year, California Connected introduced viewers to “Our School,” Mount Vernon Middle School near downtown Los Angeles. It was one of thirteen schools being monitored by the state last year after its students failed to meet mandated goals on standardized tests.
This week, we check on the school’s progress nearly a year after our first visit — and as the deadline approaches to implement substantive and lasting improvements.
Many changes are already evident. The campus is cleaner, new classrooms were created to accommodate the school’s nearly 1,850 students, and student test scores have improved.
The steady transformation of Mt. Vernon has been brought about through the combined efforts of new and existing staff.
The school’s principal, Scott Schmerelson, kicked off his first full school year here in September, joined by eight assistant principals, four of whom are dedicated to monitoring instruction in the classrooms.
But as Schmerelson says, the honeymoon is over and the stress on teachers is palpable. By creating additional classrooms, the school opened the door to 250 additional students next year. But a district official who oversees Mt. Vernon says such an increase in the student population will be avoided because of the potential impact on the school’s progress.
Teacher Tracy Cross already experiences the challenge of large class sizes on a daily basis.
“I keep getting more and more students,” says Cross, “And, you feel like you get kids that are lost. You realize, I haven’t even really talked to that kid in two weeks.”