Pinnacle Charter School Buffalo

Schools needing to improve jump to 44

Sixteen schools in Buffalo, five charter schools and 14 suburban schools in Erie County have made the latest list of the state of schools in need of improvement, Albany officials said Thursday.

Four schools in Niagara Falls and Niagara County Schools five suburbs also received the designation undesirable.

And three local school districts - Lackawanna, Lockport and North Tonawanda - were doubled in need of improvement.

If this seems a lot of schools and districts making a list of condition monitoring, it is, and it's happening throughout the state.

The number of schools and districts newly identified this year as needing improvement is unprecedented, according to state Education Department officials.

Statewide, eight times as many schools, 847, made the list this year compared with last year. This year, 89 districts -- more than one in 10 -- made the list versus just four last year.

Locally, 44 schools were cited in Erie and Niagara counties this year compared with five last year.

"This is just further evidence -- as if we needed any -- that we must move forward to reform our schools and change what is happening in our classrooms," Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch said.

A school or district is deemed in need of improvement if it fails to make adequate yearly progress in a particular area two years in a row. If a particular group of students -- for instance, students with disabilities -- does not make adequate yearly progress, the entire school is cited. Administrators have long complained that challenges with a small group of students can land a school on the list.

In the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District, four schools were designated in need of improvement this year. Those schools generally had problems with results on English assessments, particularly among students with disabilities, Superintendent Mark P. Mondanaro said. "[English language arts] has been, overall, in our district, behind our math achievement," he said. "So when cut scores were raised two years ago, that brought this to a head even more.

Pinnacle Charter School Announces Enrollment Openings | Language Study

Http://www.othymes.com/pinnacle2.mp3

Heidi Rotella, Chief Academic Officer for Pinnacle Charter School has announced enrollment openings for students in grades K-8. Grade levels that have immediate openings are Kindergarten, First, Third, Fourth, Sixth and Seventh grades. Pinnacle is also accepting enrollment in grades K-8 for the upcoming school year.

Located in downtown Buffalo, Pinnacle Charter School facts are as follows:

20 to 1 student to teacher ratio Conveniently located and perfect for parents working in downtown Buffalo

“Students can join us immediately for one-on-one, personalized instruction to help them succeed on the state’s assessment test”, says Heidi Rotella. “Pinnacle students enjoy individual attention, strong foreign language, music and arts programs and a first-rate sports program”. Contact us today for a personal tour of the school. 842-1244.

Once an abandoned warehouse, the school, which opened in fall 2003, was designed by educators and has wireless technology and innovative classroom layouts that complement the curriculum. The school’s grounds feature a new track, athletic field and playground.

Pinnacle educates students within a communications-themed curriculum that boasts foreign language instruction beginning in kindergarten and a year-round school calendar and extended school days that will put students three years ahead of peers upon eighth grade graduation. Pinnacle students also enjoy one of the most comprehensive physical education programs in the country and fun “extras” such as yoga, African drumming and dance.

Enrollment is still open for Winter 2007. Interested parents should call (716) 842-1244 to arrange a private tour of the school. Online at http://www.pinnaclewny.org.

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