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Please refer any questions or feedback on our process to Ms. Kelly O'Hara. We welcome participation from students, parents, and community members during this self-study process.

Excellence by Design

Excellence by Design is an accreditation process that calls for the Elkton High School community to evaluate all aspects of the school.Last year was our year of self study, this year is our year of evaluation. Our community includes students, parents, staff, and people who live in our community. Part of this evaluation involves asking parents and students to give their perceptions about the aspects of the school that impact them. The results of these surveys and the work of the subcommittees will help us create an action plan to continuously improve Elkton High School. These are the objectives that were established during the self-study year of excellence by design:

Elkton High School Objectives

The committees have identified the root causes that limit our success in each area and have developed an action plan for each objective. The measurements that will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of each action plan are included in the action plan.

As a portion of the self-study process, we asked parents to complete a survey. Thank you for your participation; we appreciate your support of our school. The school improvement team worked together to revise our school mission statement and write a list of our beliefs. These are the current drafts of our work:

Elkton High School Mission
Elkton High School inspires a spirit of community, mutual respect, individual worth, and a commitment to continuity. Our safe and nurturing environment encourages our students to succeed and empowers their academic, creative, and personal development. While celebrating both their individuality and commonality, students are challenged to reach beyond their own expectations in pursuit of excellence. As a school, we collaborate with the community to prepare our students for a successful transition from school to career. Elkton High graduates value knowledge, respect, and diversity, as they become responsible citizens and life-long learners.

The Beliefs of the Elkton High School Community

We believe that

•       Responsibility should accompany opportunity.
•       Diversity is a strength in today’s global society.
•       All children have the right to an education.
•       Children are more successful when they choose their own challenges.
•       Children learn from their mistakes.
•       Public education reflects and reinforces the ideals of a democratic society.
•       Every person has value and is capable of success.
•       Communication is essential to foster a sense of community and collaboration.
•       Our diversity is our strength.
•       Children need a safe environment to learn.
•       Children have different strengths and weaknesses and learn in different ways.
•       We believe that growth and learning are our focus.
•       Knowledge breeds opportunity.
•       Parents and community play an integral role in educating their children.
•       Appropriate funding is essential to public schools.

Here is the profile of what we hope our student graduates can achieve.

A graduate of Elkton High School will be literate and proficient in the following areas:

• Reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
• Mathematics
• Government
• History
• Global awareness
• The sciences
• Basic technology
• Physical fitness and health
• Fine arts
• Community service
• Financial literacy

A graduate of Elkton High School will be able to:

• Apply critical and creative thinking skills to everyday situations.
• Maintain a positive and respectful attitude toward others.
• Communicate effectively through listening, speaking, and writing.
• Utilize knowledge to make a positive impact on society and the environment.
•  Incorporate personal strengths and challenges in working toward achieving his/her full potential.

A graduate of Elkton High School will demonstrate the following characteristics:

• Leadership – in post-high school learning communities, in the family, in the workplace, and in the civic community.
• Creativity – in thought, action, and problem solving.
• Responsibility – as an individual, as a citizen, as a family member, and as a member of the global community.
• Maturity – in thought and action.
• Productivity – in personal, academic, community, and workplace endeavors.
• Initiative – in personal, academic, community, and workplace endeavors
• Tolerance and Acceptance – of the diversity of others.
• Integrity – in all aspects of life.

This self-study process reflects our aspirations for our current students and graduates not necessarily where we are now.

Please refer any questions or feedback on our process to Ms. Kelly O'Hara. We welcome participation from students, parents, and community members during this self-study process.