Continuous School Improvement Plan

Students in grades 9-12 were given a diagnostic assessment through IXL, which measures grade-level proficiency, specific skills, growth, progress, and reading levels. This assessment is given at the beginning of each school year to establish baseline proficiency for each student. The information was shared with staff to assist the building in formulating departmental and individual goals to support our work in meeting this goal. The baseline data indicated that 14% are below grade level, and 52% are reading more than one level below grade level.

Our library staff has worked with the staff and students to provide more relevant reading materials to support students in our DEAR (Drop Everything and Read Time) on Mondays to work towards increasing reading endurance.

In November, students are working to complete their second diagnostic in IXL to gather updated data regarding student progress. Updated data will be shared in next quarter's report.

Our teachers are integrating IXL into lessons regularly and have shared the following highlights from our students.

• 5,217 hours spent on IXL at school and home
• 496,233 Questions Answered on IXL as a School
• 12,326 Skills Practiced on IXL
• 9,325 Skills Proficient
• 5,215 Skills Mastered

The math department met over the summer and has already begun meeting during their common planning times to review student data, current student progress, and is working to develop lessons and employ teaching strategies to support students in mastering math concepts in Algebra I and Geometry. Other content areas also share areas of overlap, in which they can support this goal.

Our teachers continue to learn and work with EDIA (program that provides progress monitoring and interventions for students in math). The following data was gathered for the 1st Quarter:

• 63.1% of Algebra I students are demonstrating at least 70% or higher mastery, while 36.9% are demonstrating less than 70% mastery of current content.
• 88.9% of Geometry students are demonstrating at least 70% or higher mastery, while 11.1% are demonstrating less than 70% mastery of current content.

The Sherando School Improvement Team developed a survey for staff to complete beginning on September 22, 2025. The survey will be slightly modified and given to staff again at midyear and at the end of the year to determine whether the goal has been met.

Based on data from the survey, the Warriors for Wellness Committee was established. This team has been creating opportunities to build staff capacity and opportunities for relationship building through various events throughout the first quarter. One event had to be canceled due to a bomb threat.

Based on staff concerns related to safety policies and procedures, a faculty meeting was dedicated to reviewing protocols, policies, and answering questions.

In August 2025, our reading specialist provided professional development on reading strategies to all faculty members. The purpose of this professional development was to provide strategies to be utilized across all content areas to meet the identified needs of their students.

On September 22, 2025, based on feedback received from a staff survey that was given at the first faculty meeting, staff engaged in English Language Learner (ELL), Special Education (SPED), and data review professional development sessions to gather additional strategies and information that can be used in their classrooms to support student growth in the area of reading for comprehension, fluency, and overall endurance.

In November, students are working to complete their second diagnostic in IXL to gather updated data regarding student progress.

On October 13, 2025, Sherando hosted one of FCPS sponsored Multilingual Readiness Fair evenings for families, which included representation from community services, snacks, and entertainment.

• Open House/Back to School Night was held on August 7, 2025
• Warrior Day of Caring for BTS Campus Clean-up was held on August 9, 2025
• Meet the Team Night was held on August 19, 2025
• Weekly newsletters are sent to families to share upcoming events and to highlight student engagement in various activities, along with sharing important information to support families.

The SHS scheduling team participated in a professional development master scheduling session with a consultant from Scheduling Consultants on September 8, 2025. Since that time, the school team has been developing a new master schedule for the 2026-2027 school year that includes time for teachers to engage in professional learning communities.

The Sherando School Improvement Team and Sherando Department Chairs met to discuss instructional needs and to begin incorporating these discussions into the development of a first draft of our 2026-2027 master schedule with indicated PLT times.