How can I expect my child to learn it?

• Rockingham County Schools has made great strides in an effort to improve instruction through the use of 21st century technology. All middle school students have access to a Chrombook and utilize Canvas as a digital educational delivery platform.  Classroom teachers have daily access to an Active Board or Interactive Projector, digital tools and Streaming Video. 

• Integration of subject matter is key to understanding. Middle school teachers create lessons that are designed to help students apply math and reading skills in all subject areas.

• You can also expect your child to learn in a safe and orderly environment. Our teachers and administrators understand that very little learning occurs when a child feels unsafe. Our school's efforts to maintain a safe and orderly environment are outlined in our Crisis Response Plan and within the RCS Student Handbook. 

• Character Education supports student learning. Such virtues as Responsibility, Self Discipline, and Perseverance contribute greatly to a child's success in school and throughout life.

How will I know if my child learned it?

• End of Grade Tests is the assessment used by the district and state to determine how much progress your child has made over the course of one year. The End of Grade Test is administered in reading and math during the month of May each year. An End of Grade Test in Science is administered for all 8th grade students each year. Grade eight students who are enrolled in Algebra will take the Algebra End of Course exam in addition to their 8th grade EOG test.

• You can also track how your school is progressing as a whole. Click on NC School Report Cards, and locate your child's school by following the links. 

• Student Report Cards are issued at the conclusion of each quarterly grading period of instruction. You can expect a report of you child's progress one week after the conclusion of each grading period. Grading period ending dates are listed near the bottom of the Rockingham County Schools Calendar.

• Benchmark Exams are administered throughout the fall and spring of each year. The benchmark exams are used by teachers to determine which skills in math and reading you child may need to work on before the End of Grade Test.

What help will my child receive if he/she did not learn it?

• All middle school teachers are expected to frequently test student performance. Teachers use this information to determine the effectiveness of their instruction and to identify students who did not understand the information. Teachers are expected to collaborate with other teachers in an effort to devise strategies for those students. Strategies may include: regrouping, reteaching, small group remediation, and after school tutoring.

• Programs designed to assist students who are reading below grade level include, Intervention and Enrichment times, specialized grouping, and Wilson Reading.