Gwinnett County School District logo




Accountability and flexibility are hallmarks of Gwinnett County Public Schools' success. Key to that success is ensuring that each school community understands the progress being made by its schools, as well as what plans will drive improvement. Each school creates a collaborative Local School Plan for Improvement (LSPI) to increase student achievement results, with targeted goals based on the four strategic priorities within the district’s Blueprint for the Future: Empathy, Equity, Effectiveness, and Excellence. All schools across the district will focus on goals 2A- Multi-tiered Systems of Support and 2B- Opportunity and Access. Additionally, schools are required to select one goal from each of the other strategic priorities. LSPI goals are dynamic, like our schools, and are updated to reflect changes that occur in schools. Multiple data points are used to determine areas needing improvement and to identify specific, measurable, annual objectives. Schools then determine how to use research-based strategies to achieve these goals, using flexibility as needed. The LSPI development process involves teachers, parents, students, and community members, so the entire school community has the opportunity to be involved in conversations about school improvement.

 

2025 - 2026 Local School Plan for Improvement (LSPI)


School: MCCONNELL MIDDLE           Principal: Derico White
District Strategic Priorities/Goals Rationale Action Steps
(Implementation Design)		 How will you measure growth?
Growth Factors (Baseline & Targets)
Empathy 1.B - Staff and Student Well Being

Staff and Student Well-Being

McConnell MS will provide additional opportunities to elevate student voice, ownership, and agency in the design of their school experience and be responsive to their requests.
  1. We will utilize Advisement, Classroom Meetings, and Restorative Circles to support students' social and emotional needs.
  2. Create or empower existing student councils to give students a platform to share their ideas and concerns.
  3. Implement regular surveys, suggestion boxes, or forums where students can provide feedback on school policies and programs.
  4. Involve students in decision-making processes, especially those that directly affect them.
  5. Encourage and support initiatives and projects proposed and led by students.
  6. Host regular meetings or assemblies where students can speak openly with school administrators and teachers.
  1. I enjoy coming to this school.
    a. 2025 Result: 35.3%
    b. 2026 Target: 38.3
  2. Student success is celebrated in this school.
    a. 2025 Result: 58.8%
    b. 2026 Target: 60%
  3. Adults in this school help me plan and set goals for my future.
    a. 2024 Result: 57.7%
    b. 2025 Target: 60%
Equity 2.A - Multi-tiered System of Supports

Multi-tiered System of Supports

McConnell MS will reduce variability and increase the fidelity of high-quality Tier I instruction implementation for all students, including data-driven small groups, grade-level curriculum, ongoing formative assessments, and progress monitoring.
  1. Provide ongoing professional development to address higher-order questioning, data-driven small-group instruction, and sustained reciprocal conversations.
  2. Continuation of a mastery learning cycle to ensure all students have access to re-teaching before re-assessment.
  3. Communication of Instructional Framework
  4. Collaborative Learning Teams Implementation & Development 
  5. Analyze and disaggregate data to determine the next steps for planning and instruction (utilize collaborative learning team self-assessment rubric)
  6. Continue MTSS Implementation (utilize MTSS Air Rubric)
  7. Utilize peer observations, classroom walkthroughs, and feedback (informal and formal) to enhance and monitor Tier 1instruction (GTES)
  8. Leverage new teacher orientation (TAP), mentoring, and ongoing professional learning to support effective instructional strategies and proficient classroom management techniques for novice staff members.
  9. Continue to encourage participation in the Coaching, ESOL, and Gifted Endorsement Program.
  10. Reviewing i-Ready data at least twice a year to identify students for additional services, including gifted screening.

Decrease the percentage of students scoring in the Beginning or Developing range on Milestones Assessments: % Beginning +Development on GMAS/EOC (2025-2026).

Subject 2024-2025 Result 2025-2026 Target
6th Grade Language Arts 47% 42%
7th Grade Language Arts 57% 50%
6th Grade Math 44% 41%
7th Grade Math 51% 48%
8th Grade Language Arts 51% 46%
8th Grade Math 47% 44%
HS Physical Science 64% 54%
8th Grade Social Studies 45% 41%
Accelerated Math 0% 0%

 
Equity 2.B - Opportunity and Access

Opportunity and Access

McConnell MS will expand student opportunities to engage in and have access to high-quality, rigorous, and culturally-relevant curriculum and enrichment activities.
  1. Expanded GiftedSearch/Portfolios to qualify more students
  2. Expanded offerings in connections: computer science, AgStem, Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Theater Arts, Music Technology, JLC, and Family and Consumer Science.
  3. Provide PBIS incentives and assemblies for students who exhibit the T.I.G.E.R. attributes (Trust, Integrity, Growth, Effort, and Respect)
  4. Expanded Club Opportunities (30+)
  5. Daily Enrichment during Tiger Time expanded to all connections classes.

Percent Positive Responses (% Often True + % Almost Always True) on the following EES-STUDENT survey items:

1. All students have access to rigorous courses and support.
a. 2025 Result: 72.5%
b. 2026 Target: 75%
2. My teacher(s) provide lessons and activities that challenge me to learn.
a. 2025 Result: 75.8%
b. 2026 Target: 78% 
3. My teacher(s) help me learn in more ways than the teacher just talking in front of the class.
a. 2025 Result: 60.9%
b. 2026 Target: 63%