Rancho Viejo Middle School is making strong progress in both student behavior and academic collaboration through intentional systems and a focus on continuous improvement. As part of its strategic plan, the school has implemented targeted strategies to create a safe, supportive learning environment while strengthening instructional practices.
One key area of focus has been improving student behavior and campus safety. Through active supervision, daily security huddles, clear expectations during transitions, and increased staff presences, the school has achieved a 40% reduction in acts of aggression and an 75% decrease in suspensions, dropping from 68 suspensions to just 17 over the past year.
Building on this work, Rancho Viejo has also strengthened its academic practices by implementing collaborative instructional structures and regularly sharing student “bullseye” data across teacher teams. These efforts have led to a significant increase in student collaboration, rising from 46% in Triad 1 to 74% in Triad 3, reflecting stronger engagement and alignment in the classroom.
Leadership practices have played a critical role in accelerating these outcomes. By establishing core teams with common prep times and voluntary team huddles, staff are able to quickly identify and respond to student needs. This approach has resulted in a 33% decrease in 6th grade A1/A2 behavior violations and a 90% reduction in 6th grade suspensions, demonstrating the power of collaboration and timely intervention.
While the school continues to navigate challenges such as leadership transitions and adjustments to new instructional tools, Rancho Viejo remains focused on strengthening its systems by engaging more site leaders in the action planning process.
Through a commitment to collaboration, clear expectations, and data-driven decision making, Rancho Viejo Middle School is creating a positive school culture and improving outcomes for all students.