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: 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022
Designated 2010
Clovis Unified School District
Fresno County
Ryan Eisele, Principal
2901 DeWolf Avenue, Clovis, CA 93619
559-327-4500
School Characteristics
Community: Urban fringe; Enrollment: 1,120; Grade Levels: 7-8; School Schedule: Block schedule Wednesday and Thursday with 112- minute periods with built-in 45-minute PLC collaboration.
School Demographics
38% Hispanic/Latino; 30% White; 23% Asian; 3% African American; 3% Filipino; 2% Two or more races; 1% American Indian/Alaska Native; 0% Pacific Islander; 58% Free/Reduced Lunch; 7% English Learners
Replicable Practices
Teachers design structured lessons for every standard with pre- and post-assessments, and re-teaching components using the 4 Phase Teaching Method and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework to monitor and evaluate student progress.
Students have access to laptops through academic block classes and multiple computer labs giving them access to Edmondo, Google Classroom, Plickers, Clickers, Easy Bib, and teacher websites.
PLCs meet twice weekly to discuss goals, student achievement, teaching strategies, and areas of success and improvement.
Yearly curriculum strategies are determined each year at the pre-institute in-service and implemented school-wide throughout the year, including four phase lesson plan model, effective feedback, and checking for understanding.
Science department has implemented Next Generation Science Standards fostering 5-E Lessons (engage, explore, explain, extend, and evaluate).
All students’ academic needs are supported through intervention, tutoring, honors classes, academic seminar classes to support struggling students, AVID, Read 180, Positive Academic Workshop for Success (PAWS), and tutoring from classroom teachers.
Students and teachers are supported by Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA) in math and language arts. TOSA’s interact with classes to model and co-teach new strategies, work with small groups, and work with individual students as needed.
Students have access to a wide variety of co-curricular opportunities from sports to performing arts to academic teams such as history day, science fair, and robotics demonstrating the school’s philosophy of Mind, Body and Spirit.
Students have access to counseling support as well as the “Transition Team” which provides students intensive support and mentoring resources including a specialized Opportunity class.
Parents are given multiple opportunities for input and involvement through focus groups such as: SSC, ELAC, the Inter-Diversity Advisory Committee, and the AVID site team. The Parent Center provides access to computers, daycare and a variety of educational opportunities for parents and community members.