Jenks+Middle+School


 * Joseph Jenks Junior High School **

**Introduction**
Joseph Jenks Junior High School is one of Pawtucket's three junior high schools. This school is located at 350 Division Street on the West side of Pawtucket. This page describes five different indicator areas that illustrate the type of school Joseph Jenks is. These areas (demographics, NECAP assessment results, school safety, social and emotional connectedness, and the SALT survey report) are all important indicators that parents, future students, or community members who would like to know more about their district's schools.

**Demographics:**
The Joseph Jenks Junior High School has variety between most of its ethnic groups. Out of its 477 students, the largest ethnic group is Hispanic (43%) followed by White (33%), the third highest is the African American population (22%). The Asian and Native American populations are the lowest with 1% each.[1]

**NECAP Assessment Results:**
The Joseph Jenks Junior High School does not have very impressive NECAP assessment scores. In grade 7, less than half of the students reach the proficiency standard in either math or reading. A staggeringly low percentage (26%) of 7th grade students reach proficiency in math, and only 47% reach proficiency in reading. The scores for the 8th grade students do not improve much from 7th. Only 29% reach proficiency in math, 52% reach proficiency in reading, and 36% reach proficiency in writing.[2]

**School Safety:**
Compared to the state's averages, students that attend Joseph Jenks Junior High School did not feel as safe as the rest of the students in the state. According to students' reports, at least 31% said they were robbed at least once at school, compared to the average of RI middle schools which was 27%. At Joseph Jenks Junior High 15% of students said that they were teased or bothered by other students compared to the 10% state average, and 14% of students reported that someone tried to sell them drugs at least once during school, higher than the 10% of average RI middle schools.[3]

**Social and Emotional Connectedness:**
In general, teachers feel that there is a connectedness between their fellow colleagues. There is a high percentage of teachers that say they work well together as a team (85%). Teachers also agree that they believe other teachers on their team or grade level respect their ideas and opinions (90%). However, only 20% of teachers reported that they integrated classroom curricula and concepts across subject areas. Overall, 65% of teachers feel that there is a group spirit among the staff. Overall, students at Joseph Jenks Junior High School feel that there is a sense of connectedness between students and teachers. 40% of students agree that most or all of the time teachers take a personal interest in their students, and 20% of students reported that most or all of the time they get individual help and advising from their teachers. A high percentage of teachers (95%) agreed that members of their team or grade level interact with their students in a way that shows respect. As a whole, there is a high level of connectedness between students and teachers in Joseph Jenks Junior High.[4]

**SALT Survey Report:**
The last SALT report was done in February of 2005. Joseph Jenks Junior High School has 477 students, one principal who was new in 2005, approximately 70 faculty, and 17 staff members. Joseph Jenks Junior High is located next door to McCoy Stadium, home of the Pawtucket Paw Sox. This school was set up with an open classroom structure, which means that students are placed in classrooms without walls, windows or doors. Each different class is divided by partitions that are unstable and have fallen in the past. The SALT team found that many students are unable to focus because of the may distractions, poor air quality, and room temperature. This open classroom structure also provides teachers with frustrations. They are unable to utilize hands-on activities in their instruction for fear of disturbing the other classes.

Through their visit, the SALT team found that the students of Jenks Junior High vary greatly in both their desire to learn as well as in their levels of acheivement. The SALT team also found that students, teachers, and parents all agreed that the school is not consistently challenging. Few teachers teach students how to solve problems by asking open-ended questions. Instead, most teachers simply provide the students with the information, which causes students to become passive learners.

The SALT team had several recommendations for Joseph Jenks Junior High School. One of the recommendations to the teachers was to increase opportunities for students to become independent learners. Another recommendation for the teachers is to increase the hands-on activities for their students so that they can become more active participants in their own learning.

The SALT survey report has also pointed out some commendable aspects of Joseph Jenks Junior High. According to the SALT team, there are "pockets of excellent teaching." The team also found that there is a great emphasis on both teaching the writing process as well as a willingness of the teachers to improve their teaching skills. One of the biggest strengths of Jenks Junior High School is its diverse student population and the respectful relationships among students and between students and teachers.[5]

**Conclusion**
Overall, Joseph Jenks Junior High School is a very diverse and respectful environment. However, the NECAP results show its weakness in the academic areas. Also, Jenks Junior High does not have as safe of an environment as an average RI middle school based on students' reports. The connections between students and teachers as well as the relationships among teachers are positive ones. There is generally a high feeling of connectedness in this school. When the SALT team came in 2005 they had suggestions about the way in which teachers conveyed information, but commended them on their willingness to improve their teaching practices. This is a junior high school that, despite its outdated classroom structure, shows great potential for children who attend it.

District: Pawtucket Author: Virginia K


 * 1) ^ Information Works : Rhode Island Public Schools 2008 : Joseph Jenks Junior High School: Using Information. (n.d.). . Retrieved November 9, 2009, from[].


 * 1) ^ Information Works : Rhode Island Public Schools 2008 : Joesph Jenks Junior High School: Accountability. (n.d.). . Retrieved November 8, 2009, from[].


 * 1) ^ Information Works : Rhode Island Public Schools 2008 : Joseph Jenks Junior High School: Students' Point of View: Middle Schools. (n.d.). . Retrieved November 9, 2009, from[].


 * 1) ^ Information Works : Rhode Island Public Schools 2008 : Joesph Jenks Junior High School: Connectedness. (n.d.). . Retrieved November 9, 2009, from[].


 * 1) ^ RI Department of Education. (n.d.). //Joesph Jenks Junior High: School SALT Visit Report//. Retrieved November 9, 2009, from [].