Partners: Ranchero Middle School

Ranchero Middle School believes—and is committed to ensuring—that parents and the school community play an integral part in the school program. Effective communication is essential to maintaining the relationship between school and families.  Means of communication are a homework hotline, Web grade system, parent conferences, regular progress reports, binder reminders, phone calls/notes home, parent nights, STAR chats (where administrators meet with each student to discuss STAR test scores and strengths and weaknesses), and Celebration of Education (where students' families and community members are invited to the school to celebrate academic achievements).

Within the school, there are also opportunities for parent involvement through several community partnership programs such as AVID, GATE, and the District English Language Learner Councils. Our family resouce specialist is a valuable resource for parents as she creates the monthly newsletter, coordinates parent volunteers, holds monthly parent meetings with the principal, acts as president of the district parent program, and organizes parents for chaperoning and volunteeting in the classroom. She also coordinates volunteers for fundraisers and school events. 

RMS has a variety of connections to the community: CJSF, Kiwanis/Builders Club, ASB, incentive program, job shadowing, principal-for-the-day, Rotary Club, local performing and visual art troupes, and conferences and workshops. These parnterships are successful through collaborative decision making.  Teachers, administrators, counselors, families/parents, and students are involved in School Site Council, individual education plan (IEP) meetings, surveys to determine needs, and programs and clubs for students.