March+16

**Mission Statement **//To provide a challenging academic experience for students that encourages life-long learning. We endeavor to provide studends with a safe and healthy learning environment where they have opportunities to maximize their potential as responsible citizens and active members of society. // **Introduction ** Mount Pleasant High School is located in a working-class residential neighborhood situated in the northwest quadrant of the city of Providence. The quiet and spacious qualities of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood are the home of various educational institutions; Mount Pleasant High School, Rhode Island College, and, Private-Catholic High School, LaSalle Academy all lie nearby in the Mount Pleasant community. Mount Pleasant High School is one of 10 public high schools located in Rhode Island's capitol, the city of Providence. There are also 7 public middle schools and 25 elementary schools. Currently, Oscar Paz is the school's principal along with four Assistant Principals: John McCarthy, Rudolph Moseley, Dina Cerra, and Stephan Ianotti. There is a fairly large population at Mount Pleasant High School with approximately 1093 students and 150 faculty members. Mount Pleasant provides important programs such as AP college level prep courses, Special Education, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Although Mount Pleasant has much to offer, it was only rated number 37 in the state in Rhode Island's Monthly magazine article "Best Bang for Your Buck" (School Issue). The purpose of this context statement is to provide the necessary information the parents of prospective Mount Pleasant High School students or future Providence residents would find the most helpful and useful. I put in enough research to hopefully educate the parents on whether Mount Pleasant is a good or poor choice to enroll their children in.
 * Mount Pleasant High School **434 Mount Pleasant AvenueProvidence, Rhode Island 02908**By: Bianca Cafaro **

**Community Background **The median household income of Providence is $37,273 compared to Rhode Island's at $55,273 and the United States's at $51,425. Therefore, comparatively, the city of Providence is a low-income community. The per captita income is also lower in Providence at $20,791 as opposed to the state of Rhode Island at $28,638, and the United States at $27,041. Poverty is a serious issue in Providence, because of the significant number of low-income families. There are many families in Providence below the poverty line (22%) compared to Rhode Island (9.9%). Poverty and education are connected and can greatly affect each other. Poverty brings issues such as malnutrition, lack of school supplies, and constant stress in a child's home environment. Furthermore, there are 25.6% off individuals below the poverty level in Providence which is much higher than Rhode Island (11.6%) and the United States (13.5%). As a whole, the Providence community has a high school graduation rate of 73.1% which is lower than Rhode Island's rate (83.4%) and the United State's rate (84.6%). Providence is known to be the most diverse part of Rhode Island. After viewing the Race/Ethnicity data from the US Census (2009) the percentage of White Individuals in Providence is significantly lower than the State's (82.8%) and the Country's (74.5%). In Providence, Hispanics hold the second highest population (37.7%). The Hispanic population is higher than Rhode Island's (11.4%) and the United State's (15.1%). The rest of the Providence community is made up of African Americans (14.9%), Asians (6.3%), and American Indian or Alaska Natives (.9%). In 2000 there were 51% of children in single-parent families living in Providence compared to only 30% in Rhode Island. In 2000 the percentage of teens in Providence not in school and not working was 9.9% which is a slight decrease from the Census of 1990 (10.1%). Comparably to Rhode Island, there was 8.1% of teens not in school and not working in 1990 and then a decrease to 7.1% in 2000 (RI Kids Count, 1990 & 2000). Related to the poverty level, in Providence 34% of students participate in the school's breakfast program compared to only 27% in Rhode Island.


 * Income/Poverty Data Table **
 * || **Providence ** || **Rhode Island ** || **US ** ||
 * **Median household income ** || **$37,273 ** || **$55,569 ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">$51,425 ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Median family income ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">$42,635 ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">$71,037 ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">$62,363 ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Per capita income ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">$20,791 ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">$28,638 ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">$27,041 ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Families below poverty level ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">22.0% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">8.1% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">9.9% ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Individuals below poverty level ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">25.6% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">11.6% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">13.5% ** ||


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">Race/Ethnicity Data Table **
 * || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">Providence ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">Rhode Island ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">US ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">White ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">48.5% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">82.8% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">74.5% ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">Black/African Americans ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">14.9% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">5.5% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">12.4% ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">Asian ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">6.3% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">2.7% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">4.4% ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">Hispanic ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">37.7% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">11.4% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 20px;">15.1% ** ||


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Children Population Data Table **
 * || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Providence (2000) ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Rhode Island (2000) ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Child Population ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">45,277 ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">247,822 ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Children in single-parent families ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">51% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">30% ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Children living in families below the federal poverty threshold ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">40.5% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">16.9% ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Teens not in school and not working ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">9.9% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">7.3% ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">Households with grandparents financially responsible for grandchildren ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">6% ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">4% ** ||

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 22px;">District Summary ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">﻿The Providence School District has a lower proficiency in the New England Assessment Program Testing (NECAP) than the state of Rhode Island. The NECAP Assessment is administered yearly to children in Rhode Island public schools in grades 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 for the subjects reading, writing, and science. With each subject For the 11th graders of Providence public high schools, only 60% of students were proficient in reading compared to Rhode Island's (73%), only 43% of students were proficient in writing compared to Rhode Island's (55%), and only 7% of Providence's high schools were proficient in science compared to Rhode Island's (20%). There is a 1:13 student-teacher ratio in Providence schools and in Rhode Island there is a 1:11 ratio. Fewer students in the classroom provides a more attentive and learning environment. This allows the teacher to have an easier time giving each student the attention they need in order to fully grasp and understand the material, therefore most likely performing better in school. In Providence, 2% of teachers have emergency certification; These are individuals who do not qualify for full state certification and are used when fully certified applicants are not available. This is higher than Rhode Island's (1%). In order to meet the standards of a "Highly Qualified" teacher, they must have a Bachelor's Degree, hold full state certification, and demonstrate subject matter competency in the core academic subject by having a major or its equivalent by passing a content knowledge test. In Rhode Island, 3% of teachers are not highly qualified compared to the district of Providence (3%). In the Providence District 85% of students are eligible for subsidized lunch compared to Rhode Island which is only 43%. Students are eligible for subsidized lunch based on family income. ESL education is a service offered in the Providence school system; in Providence 13% of students occupy this program whereas in Rhode Island only 5% do. The attendance rate for high schools in the Providence District is 85%; slightly lower than that of Rhode Island (91%). There is also a lower graduation rate for Providence students (66.5%) than Rhode Island (75.5%). The property value per each student in Providence is $382,463.51 and per pupil is $15,451.10 (Infoworks, 2008).




 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 22px;">School Analysis **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Compared to all public schools in the Providence District (Classical, Central, Hope, etc.), Mount Pleasant has an average performance. There is proof found in the NECAP testing and other numerical data such as graduation and attendance rate. After viewing the NECAP testing, it is obvious that this school's performance is much lower than the highest performing public Providence High School, Classical. For reading there was only a proficiency of 32% compared to Classical's at 99%, for writing there was only a proficiency of 19% at Mount Pleasant compared to Classical's at 82%, and for science Mount Pleasant was 1% proficient compared to Classical's at 30%. Mount Pleasant has 6% of teachers with emergency certification compared to Classical's at 5%. Mount Pleasant has 1% of teachers who are not highly qualified whereas Classical has 4%. The teacher-student ration at Mount Pleasant is 1:13 compared to Classical's at 1:15. At Mount Pleasant 81% of the students qualify for subsidized lunch, 62% at Classical, and 85% at Central. Students who receive ESL services at Mount Pleasant (16%) and Central (14%) are both high compared to Classical at less than 1%. Students receiving special education services at Mount Pleasant (17%) and Central (20%) are also high compared to Classical at only 2% (Infoworks, 2009-2010). The attendance rate at Mount Pleasant (79%) is much lower than Central (82%) and Classical (94%).


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 22px;">Conclusion **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Based on the research and information put into this context statement, Mount Pleasant is only a decent public high school choice in Providence and generally all of Rhode Island. In my opinion, it is in the best interest for your child to have other options available. However, there are definitely positives that come with attending Mount Pleasant. It exposes every student to a wide diversity/ethnicity student body, which I believe is important. Mount Pleasant also offers plenty of activities and they usually perform very well in all their sports, especially basketball. Although the testing and overall attendance level might be lower in Mount Pleasant than most schools, it does not necessarily mean the teachers are not excellent. If you student puts in enough effort into his or her school work, she/he can come out of a Mount Pleasant education top of the class with a great future.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 22px;">References **