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: 2016, 2019, 2022
Designated 2013
Sanger Unified School District
Fresno County
Ken Garcia, Principal
2207 9th Street, Sanger, CA 93657
(559) 524-6840
School Characteristics
Community: Town, fringe of large city; Enrollment: 608; Grade Levels: K-8; School Schedule: Seven periods, core classes 50 min. and 60 min. on minimum day Wednesdays; P.E. and electives 45 min., daily intervention or enrichment classes 50 min.
School Demographics
84% Hispanic; 8% White; 5% Asian; 1% African American; 1% Pacific Islander; 0% Filipino; 0% Two or More Races; 0% American Indian/Alaska Native; 72% Free/Reduced Lunch; 11% English Learners
Replicable Practices
Sanger Academy implements an 8-12 week Tier 2 deployment during the elective block allowing students who have not mastered content to work in small groups with cross-curricular core teachers to meet standards. Additional intervention is provided through study hall and academic lunch lab.
Minimum Day schedules allow for cross grade level/subject area meetings multiple times each year to share best practices and to develop common practices to help support and prepare students for the next grade level.
Subject matter PLCs are highly evolved and allow staff to develop as professionals, analyze data, reflect on and share best practices, and work toward common goals that directly impact student learning.
Sanger implements a system to improve students’ understanding of and commitment towards physical fitness, movement skills, and physical activity while increasing students’ practice of healthy eating habits and good nutrition.
As a music and arts charter, Sanger Academy offers instrumental band, guitar, graphic or visual arts and drama.
Positive school climate is supported by effective implementation of PBIS throughout the school, as well as school recognition programs, Second Step programs, robust counseling program, and weekly class meetings.
Teachers and students have 1:1 iPads and Smart Boards and staff have had extensive training in the effective use of technology in the classroom.
Considerable support is provided to EL students through the analysis of data to identify trends and strategies, frequent reviews of progress, and Individualized Learning Plans for Long Term EL (LTEL) students that are reviewed by a school team every 8-12 weeks.
Content standards are identified for each course and Common Core units are developed around guiding questions embedded in Google classroom assignments. Teachers review expectations and grading rubrics as well as exemplars at the onset of each unit.
To enhance interdisciplinary instruction students are able to blog between social studies and English Language Arts classes and create real life scenarios between science and math.