Early Childhood - Elementary - Middle School - High School

Early Childhood Programs (Birth - 5 Years)

District 7 offers a wide range of early childhood programs for families of young children who are
screened and determined eligible for services. These programs include parenting services,
pre-kindergarten classes and playgroups.

The FACES program (Family and Classroom Educational Support) provides free developmental screenings
to all families of young children. Speech, hearing, vision, language concepts, gross and fine motor
skills and cognitive skills are all professionally evaluated. These developmental check-ups are offered
monthly in various community locations. The developmental check-up is an opportunity for parents to
get another perspective on their child’s growth and development. Results from the screening can also
be used to determine eligibility for district early childhood programs for parents who are interested
in these services. To schedule an appointment, contact the FACES office at (618) 692-1222.

Pre-kindergarten classes are available to eligible three and four year old children. Full-day and halfday
sessions are offered Monday through Thursday following the District calendar. Teachers reserve
Fridays for home visits, field trips and parent meetings. The goal of this classroom is to best prepare
the pre-school child for kindergarten entry which is a free program funded by the Illinois State Board of
Education. All classes are taught by certified teachers who specialize in early childhood education.

Parenting services are primarily directed to those children who meet eligibility requirements established
by the Illinois State Board of Education. Eligible families can receive home visits for support
with parenting issues, attend parenting classes and parent/child interaction sessions, or participate in
weekly playgroup sessions with their birth - three year old child.  For further information on early childhood programs, please call the FACES office
at (618) 692-1222.

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Elementary Education (Grades Kindergarten through Five)

Attendance Centers The District serves its elementary population through five primary schools and
three intermediate schools. Students are assigned to the primary attendance center closest to their
neighborhoods. The primary schools then feed into an intermediate attendance center located within
the same boundaries.

Nelson School and Glen Carbon School are both Pre-Kindergarten - Second Grade centers that feed
into Woodland School, which houses Grades Three - Five. Leclaire School serves Pre-Kindergarten
- Second Grade and feeds into Columbus School. Hamel School and Midway School are both Pre-
Kindergarten - 3 centers that feed into Worden School, which serves Grades Four - Five. See flow chart
on page 10.

Primary Academics All schools follow the same core curricula, which includes language arts, mathematics,
science, social science, physical development and health, and fine arts. All curricula have
been designed to meet Illinois Learning Standards. Title I reading assistance is available for identified
students.

Gifted & Talented Programs: District 7’s “Challenge Program” does not officially begin until fourth
grade, but teachers are trained to recognize and accommodate individual gifted students. Cross-grade
enrichment activities are encouraged. Teachers from different grade levels collaborate to meet the
needs of all students.

The gifted and talented identification process takes place at the middle of third grade. Three criteria
are used to determine placement in the Challenge Program:

• Williams Test of Divergent Thinking results
• Cognitive Abilities Test results
• Teacher recommendation

Intermediate Academics All schools follow the same basic curriculum, which includes language
arts, mathematics, science, social science, physical development and health, and fine arts. Band and
orchestra are also offered to interested students.

Gifted & Talented Programs: Students are identified for participation in the District’s Challenge Program
based on the above criteria in the spring of third grade. The Challenge Program clusters identified
students with a teacher who has had special training in teaching gifted and talented students. Students
participate in enrichment activities within their regular classrooms. A gifted resource teacher serves
students in grades 4 - 5 through a combination of pullout and in-class instruction.

Grade Reporting and Parent Conferences (K-5): Grades are reported on a quarterly basis, and many teachers send progress reports at the middle of each quarter. Formal parent conferences are held after first quarter grades are reported. Conferences can be scheduled during any one of three scheduled days
(with special arrangements made for parents who cannot meet at that time). Ongoing parent-teacher
communication is encouraged, and parents can expect contact from their child’s teacher at any time
concerns or problems arise.

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Middle Level Education (Grades 6 - 8)

District 7 has two middle schools, Lincoln Middle School and Liberty Middle School, which house all
sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students across the district. Students are assigned to academic core
teams. Teaming provides a student-centered learning environment and a smoother transition from
elementary school to high school than the traditional junior high setting.

Academics The core curriculum at the middle level consists of language arts, social studies, science,
and mathematics. These subject areas are taught by academic core teams, with the size of each team
varying at each grade level. Smaller teams are utilized at the sixth and seventh grade levels; larger
teams are utilized at eighth grade so students’ schedules more closely resemble what they will experience
at high school. Individuals with disabilities receive instruction as determined by their respective
Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Exploratory classes taught by specialists are offered on a quarterly basis and vary according to grade
level. They include art, computer applications, vocal music, industrial arts. Students take physical
education and health all three years. Students may also elect to take band, chorus, and/or orchestra.

Parent handbooks contain more details on specific grade level courses.

Gifted and Talented Program: Both Liberty and Lincoln Middle Schools implement an Honors Program
that is incorporated into students’ academic classes. Students are identified for participation in the
areas of language arts and math. Special enrichment is part of most classes and is also offered to the
entire student body through extracurricular activities.

Grade Reporting and Patent Conferences: Report cards are issued four times per year. A progress report
is issued at the midpoint of each quarter. Teams are available to meet with parents as needed and
requested. All teachers have voice mail and e-mail addresses to facilitate communication. Formal
parent conferences are conducted annually in November, with either parents calling to schedule a
conference or teachers requesting a conference.

Student Support Both middle schools provide a variety of services for students. Each student is provided
with a planner, as an organizational tool that assists students in recording and planning their
work and other school activities. Direct instruction in study habits is a part of most classrooms. The
planner is also a communication tool for parents and teachers.

The first level of student support is each grade level’s student services team. The student services team
consists of a social worker and an assistant principal. This team oversees student discipline and assists
students with problems and concerns. The student services team is assisted by a school resource
officer (SRO); an interventionist, who works with students at risk of alcohol and/or other drug abuse;
and a prevention counselor, who coordinates positive activities for students, including the Spring and
Fall Flings, the Health Fair, DARE Day, Celebrate Sober, and many other activities.

The middle schools have active Student Assistance Programs. These programs are designed to help
students who are having significant difficulties at school in the areas of behavior, academics, health,
and/or attendance. Referrals to the student assistance team come from parents, staff, and peers.
Supplemental instruction and tutoring are available from a variety of sources. Evening tutoring is
provided by Lincoln School Alumni and is open to all students K - 12.

Extracurricular Activities The middle schools provide a variety of opportunities for students beyond
the school day. Athletic opportunities include both interscholastic competitive sports and an intramural
program. A variety of clubs is also available, providing opportunities for students to pursue special
interests and to develop leadership skills.

Parent Involvement There is no formal Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at the middle level, but
both middle schools receives a tremendous amount of parent support through a variety of volunteer
efforts. Parents actively participate in tutoring programs, assist in registration and scheduling parent
conferences, and volunteer in classrooms. Parents also provide assistance in the major social activities
hosted by the middle schools, such as the Fall and Spring Flings.

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Edwardsville High School

Academics Edwardsville High School provides a full range of curricular offerings to meet the educational
needs and interests of its students as they prepare for post-secondary education or the world
of work. Through over 160 courses, students are provided with a strong core curriculum in English,
Mathematics, Social Science, and Science. Four years each of Spanish, French, and German classes are
offered. In addition, EHS offers an extensive selection of fine arts and vocational courses.

A minimum of 20 credits is required for graduation. Sixteen credits must be earned in academic subjects,
10.5 of which are required courses. Transfer students must be enrolled for a minimum of one complete
semester to graduate. A student may graduate early if he/she has the required number of credits and
has met the course pattern requirements. Students are required to pass one year of American History
and one semester each of Civics, Global Studies, and Consumer Education. A student must also pass
a U.S. and Illinois Constitution test in Civics to graduate. A complete list of classes and course requirements
are available in the course handbook issued yearly by the high school.

Ninety percent of those graduating, typically, go on to institutions of higher learning. Students and
parents should check individual college requirements and NCAA requirements, as they may vary
from the high school’s graduation requirements. While there is no placement service for employment
beyond high school, EHS will provide some of the testing required for unions and the armed forces
(ASVAB) for interested students. Additional information can be obtained in the guidance office.

The high school provides three work-study programs: Special Education, Office Co-Op, and Interrelated
Co-Op. Students eligible for work-study must earn the appropriate number of credits, attend
regular classes, and possess the skills required for the work-study program.

Children in the Edwardsville School District are required to attend school through age 17. The dropout
rate for the 2003-2004 school year was 2.5%. For students unable to achieve success in the traditional
school environment, there is the option of attending an alternative high school. The graduation requirements are the same, and the goal is to reintegrate the student back into the regular high school. The average annual student population at the alternative high school is from 25-40 students. For further
information on the alternative high school, click here.

Honors Program Honors courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered in the core academic
areas. Prerequisites and minimum grade requirements are required for selecting these courses. Honors
and AP courses are weighted to address the increased academic demands within these courses.

Grade Reporting and Parent Conferences Students receive report cards four times per year; progress reports are issued to students with academic or behavioral difficulties at the midpoint of each quarter. There
are regular opportunities for teachers and parents to confer about a student. Teachers are typically
available before and after classes. They also have voice mail and e-mail to facilitate communication.
Formal parent conferences are conducted annually in November. However, parents or teachers may
request a conference whenever the need arises.

Student Support EHS offers a wide variety of services to its students. Each student is provided with
the EHS Handbook and planner, an organizational tool designed to assist students in recording and
19 planning their work and other school activities. The planner contains a schedule of all school-based
activities, including the District calendar.

Each of the six guidance counselors is responsible for a certain portion of students, which is assigned
alphabetically. Every effort is made for the student to have the same counselor for all four years.
Counselors are available for academic, vocational, and social guidance. Students are assigned to an
assistant principal and every effort is made for the student to remain with that assistant principal until
graduation. Specialists, such as social workers and a psychologist, are available within the school
district to assist students with any problems they might have.

Students planning to attend college receive support through assistance in academic advisement, ACT
preparation courses, college visit days, and entrance testing. Information on scholarships and financial
aid is also available through the guidance office.

Students preparing for the world of work receive support through vocational planning and the development
of Individual Career Plans (ICP’s). If a student desires an entry-level job upon graduation, it
is advisable to follow a specific sequence of courses in a particular vocational field. Counselors work
with students to ensure preparation for their chosen field.

Tutoring is available on an informal basis. A student unable to attend classes due to prolonged illness
may receive homebound tutoring. Teachers are available before and after school for extra help.

A variety of programs exists for students experiencing difficulty in school. EHS’s Student Assistance
Program takes referrals on students and helps guide them to the proper support services. The high
school has two full-time School Resource Officers (SRO) on-site. And, an in-district suspension program
is available to allow those students whose infractions are of a non-violent nature to continue
their education while serving their suspension. In this way, students receive consequences for poor
behavior decisions but have monitored school work time as well.

Extracurricular Activities EHS offers a wide range of extracurricular activities. A partial list of organizations
and athletic teams is available in the EHS handbook and planner. Some teachers volunteer
their time to help with after-school activities; others are paid a stipend for their assistance.  For a list of activities click here.

Parent Involvement There is no formal parent volunteer organization, but most school committees
include parents. Parent involvement in booster programs is high, and some parents volunteer during
the school day for special projects or events (e.g., distributing schedules on the first day of school).

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