Muskogee 6th–7th Grade Academy cites test gains, lays out interventions to cut chronic absenteeism

Dr. Ruben MacIntosh, principal of the 6th and 7th Grade Academy, told the Muskogee Board of Education that the site has 527 students — 273 sixth-graders and 254 seventh-graders — and outlined academic gains and planned interventions.

MacIntosh said the academy’s English language arts scores improved: proficiency rose from about 12% to 24% between 2022–23 and 2023–24. He reported a decline in math proficiency, citing a drop in the basic category from about 37% to 24% over the same period.

The academy is using targeted programs to address both reading and math. MacIntosh described Read 101 as “an intensive intervention” that provides a 90-minute individualized reading block and ongoing teacher coaching; he said 54 students who entered reading two to three grade levels behind have returned to grade-level ELA classes, and 56 additional students are in the pipeline for the program. For math, the school has adopted a new curriculum and an individualized online intervention platform, ALEKS, to give students tailored practice and allow remedial work when students miss class.

MacIntosh said the site is an OSDE school improvement site (ATSI) and receives a gap grant “about 200 $1,000” that funds professional development, curriculum and interventions for reading and math. He also described a Year Up for Life grant from the University of Oklahoma that supports postsecondary planning; all seventh-graders are scheduled to visit OSU in the spring as part of that program.

Attendance and chronic absenteeism were a focal point. MacIntosh said chronic absenteeism contributed zero points to the site’s state report-card score and set a school goal to reduce the percentage of students classified as chronically absent by at least 25%, citing OSDE’s definition. To support attendance, the school is implementing a multi-tiered system of supports that coordinates counselors, social workers, administrators and staff to identify and remove barriers such as transportation or clothing shortages.

MacIntosh also reviewed staffing: the academy reports 37 certified staff, 14 support staff, two counselors (one for each grade band) and four building administrators. He told the board the site lost five positions year-over-year for varied reasons including one death, relocations and one staff member leaving the profession.

MacIntosh closed by highlighting extracurricular and engagement work — Native American Student Association, band, choir, Hispanic Student Association, cheer, a STEM lab and a one-to-one device initiative — as part of efforts to increase academic engagement.

MacIntosh took a board question about math remediation and described ALEKS and additional small-group instruction, tutoring and before- or after-school supports as the district’s plan to “backfill” gaps while students receive classroom instruction.