What Makes a “Great” School?

The University of Maryland’s College of Education has surveyed numerous scholarly articles and studies to determine the main characteristics of “effective schools”. The college has designated 13 criteria that parents can use to see whether their child’s school is on its way to greatness. If you go to http://www.education.umd.edu/k-16/effectiveSchools/criteria.html#Mission, you can read the various source documents for each criterion, which explain why it is important and what it does for student achievement.

• A clear mission statement, clear goals and objectives, a vision for the school.
• Resources that include strong, sustained financial investment and effective use of resources.
• Opportunities provided, during the school day, for high academic standard mastery.
• Assessment programs that include multiple measures.
• Strong parent, family, community and business involvement.
• Continuous staff development.
• High expectations for students and staff across the entire school promoting open communication and collaboration among all staff.
• Available support services like health care, food etc.
• Safe environments with zero tolerance for drugs and guns.  Respect for diversity.
• Adequate facilities with regard to space, classroom dimensions and technology.
• Governing boards composed of community and parent partners for all decision-making levels.
• A principal who acts as an “Instructional Leader”.
• Teacher-directed classroom time for learning (this may include a school-wide focus on something specific, for example, literacy).