Clinical Context Midland High School Casey Clark Community The community of Midland is unique in that it cannot truly

y be characterized as rural, urban, or suburban although it most closely resembles a suburban community. It is located in the Saginaw Valley, approximately 15 miles west of the Saginaw Bay in the Tittabawassee River flood plain. There are four major employers in Midland; Dow Chemical, MidMichigan Regional Medical Center, Dow Corning, and Midland Public Schools. The population of Midland continues to increase gradually, growing .5% in the last decade to 41,863 according to 2010 Census data. The largest growing sector of the population is those 65 and older, currently 15.6% of the population. Due to the high tech industries in Midland it has a highly educated workforce with 42.4% of the population over age 25 obtaining at least a Bachelors degree as compared to the statewide average of just 25.3% and over 17% of those age 25 and older hold a graduate or professional degree. District and Building Organization Midlands students are serviced by a public school system that includes 7 elementary (grades K5), 2 middle schools (grades 6-8), and 2 high schools (grades 9-12). There are also 7 parochial schools, 2 alternative high schools, and one charter school in the district. Midland Public Schools has had a gradually declining enrollment the past several years with current total student enrollment in 2012-13 at 8,040. Midland High School has a student population of 1,465. Students Served Midland High School is 1 of 2 public high schools serving the Midland community and although not exclusively, it tends to serve the less affluent while neighboring Dow High has a wealthier student body in general. Midland Highs overall population has been dropping slowly over the last 5 years and was 1489 students in September 2012. The population is overwhelmingly white (90.3%) with the most significant minority groups being black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander making up a combined 7.7%. Midlands median household income is above the state average and the percentage of population living below the poverty line is 7.6%, considerably less than the state average of 11.1%. Single parent households make up 8% of all households which is also less than the state average of 9.6%. Although this data seems rather positive the reality is that Midland along with most other communities in Michigan has seen an increase in poverty as is evidenced by the increase in the percentage of students eligible to receive free and reduced lunches. In Midland that percentage has increased from 25% in 2006 to 32.8% in 2011. Staff Members & Characteristics

Midland High has a staff of 91 teachers, 5 full time administrators, and 2 part time administrators. Approximately 40% of the teaching staff is male while only 20% of the administrative staff is male. MHS staff lacks diversity with only one African American member and 2 people of Latin American descent. After a relatively large turnover in 2003-04 MHS has had few newly hired teachers given the declining enrollment. The vast majority of the MHS staff has between 10 and 20 years of teaching experience while 16 have more and 6 have less. While the overwhelming majority of staff at Midland High holds a Masters degree there are currently no PHDs. All teachers teaching in Core areas are highly qualified. Curriculum, Programs and Services Curriculum is closely aligned with the state of Michigans requirements and content coordinators ensure that continues to be the case. Midland Public Schools devotes a large amount of precious financial resources employing coordinators and chose to keep them while removing department heads because they felt them more valuable. For honors and college preparatory students MHS offers an International Baccalaureate program at the junior and senior levels as well as AP courses throughout all grade levels. As required by law MHS has special education services Midland Public Schools has divided special education students with Dow High services student with mild cognitive impairments and Midland High providing services for students with emotional impairments. Midland and Dow also team up to provide a variety of programs for career and technical education including building trades at Midland High and car care at Dow High. Midland also works closely with the Bay Arenac Skills Center in providing further instruction in various trades. Resources Midland High School was built in 1956 and while well maintained there are a number of inconveniences due to the age of the building. Extensive work on upgrading the power and internet capabilities required lowering the ceilings throughout the building creating a rather oppressive environment particularly on the first floor. It is not an attractive, visually appealing building and additions and upgrades have done little to improve the appearance. The student to staff ratio at Midland High School is approximately 27 to 1 for regular education core classes while the overall average is 20 to 1 and per pupil funding is $10,394 for the 2013-14 school year. Technology is woefully behind most comparable districts. Not only does MHS have few computers for student use it also lacks the capacity to work effectively online due to limited band width. There was an ineffectual attempt to pass a bond proposal that would provide 1:1 computer access and upgrade the district network but was turned down by voters.

Performance Outcomes or Measures MME test results indicate that Midland High students score far above the state average (see chart) Math MHS Michigan 46 29 Reading 65 54 Science 46 26 Social studies 59 39 Writing 65 49

26 students were retained during the 2011-12 school year according to mischooldata.org while the graduation rate has been steading in the low to mid 90% range. The vast majority of behavioral issues center on tardiness, unexcused absences, the occasional insubordination, fighting, alcohol, and drug instances. Issues Currently Occupying the School & Administration Midland is currently identified as a focus school due to the achievement gap therefore removing this stigma occupies a large portion of administrative energy. Administration also continues to work on securing the 57 year old building we occupy with few resources. This is a challenge as school security was not an issue in the 1950s. Finally, there have been some issues with inappropriate use of technology both at home and at school. Because this is a relatively unexplored area a school law, combined with new bullying laws it has taken quite a lot of time.