Conestoga Public Schools

2006-07 Annual Report Card

Quality Education For All Students

The mission of the Conestoga Public Schools is:

"To Provide a Quality Education to Prepare All Learners to be Contributing Members of Society.”

Conestoga Public Schools has utilized the Nebraska Continuous Improvement Model as an on going approach to school improvement. Kindergarten through 12th grade teams, representing each building, have taken a comprehensive look at the educational process at the Conestoga schools.

GOVERNING VALUES/BELIEFS

The mission of the Conestoga Public schools is based upon the belief that:

•  All students can learn.
• A safe environment is essential to learning.
• Learning is most effective in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
• Students need to be responsible for, and be actively involved in their learning.
• Learning is a cooperative effort among the home, school, community, and the learner.
• Learning is lifelong.
• All students live in a diverse and interdependent world.

To successfully carry out the mission of the Conestoga Public Schools, parameters that will enable the mission and beliefs to grow were identified. In order to accomplish our mission:

• All employees will approach tasks with a positive attitude.
• Educational goals will be developed with the input of students, staff, parents, and community.
• Only programs with supportive research, proven best practice, proper staff training, and on-going evaluation will be implemented.
• Effective instructional skills will be demonstrated by all staff.
• Adequate facilities, supplies, and equipment must be provided for use by students, staff and all patrons.
• An analysis of cost effectiveness will be undertaken before expending any financial resources.
• Excuses for not learning are not acceptable.

This publication contains information reflecting the 2006-07 school year. The publishing of an annual report allows the Conestoga Public Schools to meet Nebraska Department of Education, Rule 10 category 010.01A. More importantly, it provides an opportunity to share information with the school-community and others interested in the local school. Data from school districts across the state can be found at the Nebraska Department of Education website.

CONESTOGA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Conestoga School District (#56) comprises approximately 198 square miles in Cass and Otoe Counties. The district is made up of the communities of Nehawka, Murray, Beaver Lake, Lake WaConDa, and the surrounding rural areas. The district is organized as a K-12 educational program with the K-6Building located in Murray and the 7-12 Building located 2.5 miles west of Murray on Highway #1.

 Conestoga is classified as a Class III (K-12) district by the Nebraska Department of Education and a Class C1 school by the Nebraska School Activities Association. The North Central Association, which serves an 18-state region of schools and colleges, has recognized  the elementary, junior high school and secondary programs for meeting high quality educational standards and has accredited all grade levels. Conestoga is a member of the Nebraska Capitol Conference; member schools include Arlington, Ashland-Greenwood, Bennington, Ft. Calhoun, Raymond Central, Syracuse, Douglas County West, and Wahoo.

The Conestoga School District is governed by a six-member board of education. The Board meets at the elementary building in Murray the second Tuesday of the month. The meetings start at 7:00 PM unless otherwise advertised. Current members of the Board of Education are: President Dennis Martin, Vice-President Gary Todd, Secretary Pat Neu, Treasurer Dean Nickels, and members Jeff Stanley and Judy Simpson.

The Conestoga Public Schools Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization that operates separately but as an extension of the schools. The Conestoga Board of Education serves as the Foundation Trustees. The Foundation was formed to provide for acceptance of tax-deductible donations from interested supporters of education. Donations in the form of cash and equipment have been provided as memorials and contributions since the Foundation was formed in 1989. Each year the Foundation awards scholarships to graduating seniors from the Conestoga Schools to further their education. The Foundation offers mini-grants to classroom teachers for special projects that provide additional learning experiences for students.

Attendance

The attendance rate shows the total number of days students are actually in school compared to the number of days they should be in school.  The attendance rate is the average daily enrollment/membership divided into the average daily attendance.

Nebraska attendance rate of 94.77%
Conestoga attendance rate is 95.23%

Free and Reduced - Price Meals

36.42% of Nebraska students are eligible for free and reduced-priced meals.
Conestoga has 25.28% of the students using the free and reduced-priced meals.

Special Education

14.95% of school-aged children received special education services in Nebraska.
Conestoga Public Schools has 25.17% of all students that are receiving some form of special education services.

Graduation Rate

Nebraska's graduation rate of 89.33% of students that graduate in four years.  This figure included all students transferring in and out of districts.                                                                                                                                        

Conestoga High School graduation rate is 100.00% (46students)

 

Student Demographics           Enrollment Comparisons    October

 

Grade	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Pre K				40	40	39	17	32
K	39	35	52	44	49	54	44	56
1	48	38	44	53	57	44	43	36
2	42	44	35	39	51	52	45	46
3	53	40	49	42	44	48	50	49
4	51	55	44	49	47	44	48	56
5	59	54	47	45	51	45	36	47
6	57	58					41	37
K-6	349	324	K-5 271	272	299	287	K-6  307	K-6 327
6			53	56	50	53
7	50	52	64	51	59	46	52	42
8	64	55	50	66	53	51	43	48
			6-8   167	173	162	153
9	55	64	56	59	72	53	46	42
10	64	52	62	58	61	64	54	37
11	55	62	47	64	61	51	56	48
12	44	52	60	49	62	46	46	56
7-12	332	337	9-12   225	230	256	214	7-12  297	7-12 273
K-12	681	661	663	671	757	693	604	600

 

Additional information on the State Report Card can be obtained on the Nebraska Department of Education web site at www.nde.state.ne.us

 

	Grades 3-5 Performance on Standardized Math Test
Years	Below U.S. Average Percent  Number		Above U.S. Average Percent     Number		Not Tested		Tested Percent	Number
2002-03	44.19%	19	55.82%	24		0	100%	43
2003-04	25.49%	13	74.51%	38		0	100%	51
2004-05	*	*	86.84%	33		0	100%	38
2005-06	*	*	84.61	33		0	100%	39
2006-07	*	*	79.55%