And the survey says... :::
School Climate Survey
2007-2008
In the fall, LTHS administered a survey to all students and staff designed to gauge their impressions of school safety, discipline, respect among and between students and teachers, academic expectations and challenges, among other items.
The response rate for staff was high, with approximately 65% of the staff participating, but only about 28% of students responded. Unfortunately, as evidenced by the open comment section of the survey, a portion of the students did not take the survey seriously, which brings the reliability of their answers into question.
To remedy the survey flaws, in subsequent years it will be administered to students in a formal, supervised setting and given to a statistical sampling of students and staff. Questions will be modified or added to clarify the survey, and it will be administered every other year to build longitudinal data over an extended period of time.
“The climate survey is flawed, but its overall results are useful,” said Superintendent Dennis Kelly. “Parents know that somewhere in their sometimes seemingly fruitless conversations with their teen lies useful information parents need to know; the same is true for the survey. General concerns did bubble to the top, and we will work to address those matters”
School Climate Survey Results
Staff Responses (397):
Highest Rated Items
I think it is important for teachers to communicate with parents. 99%
Quality work is expected of me. 98%
I believe all students can learn. 97%
LTHS has a good public image. 95%
I feel safe at school. 93%
Lowest Rated Items
Students from different backgrounds get along at LT. 53%
I believe LT supports shared decision-making. 58%
Discipline is administered fairly. 63%
Teachers at LTHS communicate effectively with each other. 66%
I believe morale is high at LTHS. 66%
Students Responses (872)
Highest Rated Items
I believe I can be a good student. 91%
Doing well in school is important to me. 87%
I understand what is expected of me at LTHS. 85%
My teachers expect me to do my best at all times. 85%
If I need help with homework, there are people who will help me. 80%
Lowest Rated Items
When students see another student being picked on, they try to stop it. 26%
Students care about each other at LTHS. 50%
Discipline is administered fairly. 53%
Students from different backgrounds get at LTHS. 55%
Students take full advantage of the many activities at LTHS. 57%
Recommendations based on LTHS School Climate Survey
Survey Results
1. Expand efforts to monitor, control, and reduce student bullying. Conduct focus
groups with students to explore issue in more depth. In-service students and staff on how to
increase their personal responsibility for each other. Work with elementary school districts to
make it a K-12 effort.
2. Hold meetings with students and staff on disciplinary issues.
3. Develop and implement a plan to improve relations between students from different backgrounds at LTHS.
4. Hold focus groups with staff members on communications and shared decision making.
Survey Administration
1. Administer climate survey to students in a formal, supervised setting.
2. Consider using a statistical sampling of students and staff instead of making survey available to all students and staff.
3. Administer the climate survey every other year. Modify, add, or delete survey questions based on experience and results. Build a longitudinal data base and analyze and compare survey results over an extended period of time.