Rancho Milpitas Introduction

Rancho Milpitas Middle School : Introduction

Principal: Leticia Villa-Gascon
Enrollment: 669 students; 36% in poverty; 22% English learners; Asian, Hispanic and Filipino subgroups
Grade Configuration: 7-8
Daily Schedule: 6-period day (plus 20-minute Advisory)
Achievement Data: 2005 API of 766; 2004 API of 762; 2003 statewide rank of 7; API growth of 46 points in last two years

Distinctive Characteristics

Academic Excellence

Team structure closely connects students to caring adults
Differentiated instruction evident in every classroom
Standards form basis for all instructional planning; department and team planning focus on strategies to assist all students in reaching standards
Many interdisciplinary projects and cross-curricular activities
After-school tutorial program is linked to classroom instruction and gives students extra opportunities to reach standards

Developmental Responsiveness

Advisory used to provide socio-emotional support to students and to deal with teen developmental issues
All staff (including principal) lead an Advisory with a 20:1 ratio
“Girls For A Change” and other special interest groups abound to assist students in developing their own identity
Student voice acknowledged and encouraged across campus
Close working relationships between resource, special education and regular education students
Emphasis on students’ responsibility for themselves, their school environment, and the greater community
Many extra-curricular and co-curricular activities and clubs; all students must join something; most students join several

Social Equity

School creates positive learning environment that emphasizes cooperation, collaboration and mutual respect
Very diverse faculty mirrors the diversity of the student population; founding partner school of Bay Area Equitable Schools
Active outreach program to Hispanic-Latino families
School-wide AVID program evident in all classrooms
Faculty are student advocates who do everything possible to ensure student success

Organizational Support

Strong articulation with feeder elementary schools, destination high school, and sister middle school
Strong district-wide professional development support system
Strong community and family connections

California League of Middle Schools
6615 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 120, Long Beach, California 90803
Voice: 562/430-3136 or 800/326-1880 . . . FAX: 562/430-5607. . . E-Mail: info@clms.net