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Park Forest Middle principal outlines gains in attendance, mastery and school culture
Summary
Park Forest Middle School principal reported enrollment growth and instructional changes tied to TAP model implementation, three weekly teacher meetings, expanded STEM and arts programming, and targeted interventions designed to raise the school's state performance score.
Park Forest Middle School principal Miss Briscoe told the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board that the school has adopted the TAP instructional model, increased enrollment from about 450 to 470 students, and implemented multiple changes aimed at boosting student proficiency and school culture.
Briscoe described a focus on agriculture, digital media and engineering; 93-minute instructional blocks with small-group instruction; and a "mastery tree" public recognition system for students who meet mastery targets. She reported 84% of students are economically disadvantaged, 67% are African American and 27 students were identified as homeless; the school's assimilated SPS score shown in her presentation was 46.3 and an internal assimilated SPS of 21.0 (district materials cited fluctuation by year). The principal said 55% of the school's lowest-25 students showed measurable growth.
Teachers meet three times each week in data, planning and cluster meetings to analyze assessment results, refine lesson plans and implement coaching and data-driven interventions. Briscoe credited staff buy-in for culture and instructional changes and said the TAP model and consistent coaching cycles are producing observable classroom shifts.
Board members praised the school's direction. "Don't give up the fight. Challenge the belief gap and move these children forward," coach Lewis said during comments. The superintendent encouraged board members to visit and pledged continued district support.
