CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS TO WATCH
California Schools to Watch is a statewide program implemented by the California League
of Middle Schools, California Department of Education, California Middle Grades Alliance, National Forum, and the California Schools to Watch model schools.
Redesignated: 2021, 2024
Designated 2018
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Riverside County
Marissa Smith, Principal
13130 Morrison Street, Moreno Valley, CA 92553
(951) 571-4240
School Characteristics
Community: Suburban; Enrollment: 1,350; Grade Levels: 6-8; School Schedule: Six period day schedule with zero period AVID class and Wednesday flex day for staff collaboration. Sixth grades are blocked, science/math and English/social studies. Seventh and 8th grade students are teamed in core classes. Teams share a common prep period.
School Demographics
Free/reduced lunch: 79.3%; English learners: 14%
Replicable Practices
Through a partnership with Dr. Kate Kinsella, Mountain View incorporates academic and informational literacy into all academic work emphasizing English 3D classes, Power of Two Math Grant, AVID, WICOR, Cornell notes and science interactive notebooks.
Teachers and students are supported by a full-time school math coach, a professional development specialist four days/week, and an EL specialist two days per week. ELA classes that have groups of EL students have bilingual instructional assistants assigned to them. Classes with RSP students have an instructional assistant assigned to them as well.
Most staff have been trained in Capturing Kids Hearts, Unconscious Bias, PBIS and Trauma-informed teaching to facilitate the schoolwide emphasis on building connections with students, building empathy for students of diverse cultures and backgrounds, fostering a supportive classroom environment, and holding students responsible for their actions. Almost 75% of staff have attended one or more AVID trainings.
An extensive parent involvement program is in place offering opportunities for input and planning as well as parent education such as: developmental stages of the middle school student, anti-bullying, online resources for parents, nutrition, and college and career readiness. Mountain View has two “parent ambassadors” focusing on the involvement of the African American and Hispanic community.
In addition to 1:1 Chromebooks for students, every classroom has a SMARTboard, SMARTslate, ELMO, and LCD projector. Google Classroom connects students throughout the school.
Frequent, systematic examination of data is facilitated by common formative assessments, common preps, team PLC’s, release time for collaboration and FAST talks following MAP assessments followed by both short term and long-term interventions.
Mountain View has a plethora of community partnerships that assist students including: Music Changing Lives, Think Together after school program, UC Riverside and Moreno Valley College, and The United Way.. These extensive partnerships offer multiple opportunities for students and families.