Executive Summary. McGill-Toolen Catholic High School

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1 Archdiocese of Mobile Mrs. Michelle T. Haas, Principal 1501 Old Shell Road Mobile, AL Document Generated On August 22, 2014

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Description of the School 2 School's Purpose 3 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement 4 Additional Information 5

3 Introduction Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student learning. <br><br> The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis. Page 1

4 Description of the School Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated with the community/communities the school serves? Description of school came into existence on July 1, 1973 through the merger of McGill Institute for Boys (founded in 1896) and Bishop Toolen High School for Girls (founded in 1928). It is the second oldest high school in the state of Alabama. Our school is a part of the educational system of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile, consisting of three high schools and 18 elementary schools which strive to instill a values-oriented way of life based on Christian principles. sits in the heart of "midtown" Mobile. The city of Mobile has a population of 194,822 and is the 3rd largest city in Alabama. The entire population of Mobile County is 413, 936. This is based on the 2012 Census. Mobile is the oldest city in Alabama, founded in sits on two city blocks. This includes five buildings on site, and an athletic facility off-site. Currently, 1,169 students are enrolled (grades 9-12), and 125 employees are supervised by a five-member Administrative team. There are ten academic departments and two service departments (library and guidance). Of the 93 professional staff, 63% have earned a Master's degree or above. The school serves Mobile, Baldwin and nearby counties in southwest Alabama. McGill-Toolen Catholic is the largest of the three Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Students come to McGill-Toolen from our 11 Catholic "partner" schools as well as other public and private schools. The majority of our students are Catholic, but we accept students of other faiths as well. Students and families exemplify a vast sampling of ethnic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds. At the beginning of the school year, we had 1,169 students. Of these students, 987 are Catholic. Our total ethnic demographic breakdown is as follows: Asian--29, Pacific Islander--1, African/American--177, Caucasian--936 and Multi-Racial--26. We are a comprehensive high school offering College Preparatory, Honors and Advanced Placement courses. In addition, we have recently created the St. Thomas Aquinas Scholars Program. Placement in courses is based on academic performance, standardized test scores, and teacher recommendations. No vocational programs are available. In the last three years, the school has added a state-of-the-art, eight-classroom science building with an accompanying green house. Technology is changing daily, keeping up with the demand for additional Wi-Fi, the upgrading of electronic devices and the addition of interactive faculty webpages and student s. A fourth guidance counselor was hired to better serve the needs of our students and to provide one counselor per grade level. Plans are underway for the addition of a new chapel, bookstore and cafeteria. As continues to grow, we constantly strive to keep our tuition as reasonable as possible, to make our campus as safe as possible and to meet the ever changing needs of our students and families. Page 2

5 School's Purpose Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students. School's Purpose "Be it known to all who enter that JESUS is the reason for this school. He is the unseen yet ever-present teacher in its classes. He is the model of its faculty and the inspiration of its students". We are extremely proud of our heritage in Catholic Education. We are privileged at McGill-Toolen to provide three important facets to our mission as educators: the best in the area of academic excellence, the best in the physical development of the body, and most importantly, that which is our primary reason for existence, the spiritual development of the soul. Our vision is to provide a quality education, complimented by a curriculum that establishes an active dialogue with moral concepts implicit in the Catholic Faith. It is our intent to provide both atmosphere and physical facilities to foster student achievement in life, whether in academics, the arts, physical enterprises, or spiritual commitment. We continue to champion Scientia Pro Amor Dei-knowledge for the love of God. Our mission is to provide a college preparatory secondary education that enables individuals to grow in faith, to search for knowledge and truth in mind, body and spirit, and to continue building the kingdom of God on Earth. By active involvement in the learning process, students are prepared for lives of Christian leadership and service. An ideal graduate of will be a devout Catholic/Christian, an effective communicator, a gifted problem solver, a responsible global citizen, a lifelong learner and a self-disciplined motivator. Emphasis on spiritual growth and moral responsibility are factors that contribute to the uniqueness of McGill-Toolen. We are proud to say we have the best students, the best faculty and the best academic programs in a strong Catholic environment. We are the only high school in Mobile which features this incredible combination. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Council of Accreditation and School Improvement (CASI), McGill-Toolen boasts an academically challenging and comprehensive curriculum. The extracurricular programs are designed to develop talents and skills as well as qualities of scholarship, leadership, service and character. Students may choose from a variety of extracurricular activities that enhance academic, athletic, social and spiritual development. Areas represented are journalism, drama, foreign language and culture, science, history, fine arts, computer science, community service and a variety of non-athletic competitions. The music program includes both band and chorus, with the band being composed of marching band and other select ensembles. Page 3

6 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years. Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Our achievements are not limited to academics and the classroom. However, top-notch education is our priority. Enrollment is at an all-time high (since 1998) of 1,169 students. Our college preparatory curriculum is enhanced by 17 Advanced Placement Courses and Honors' Courses. Of the 93 professional staff, 63% have earned a Master's Degree or higher. At the close of the school year, our students set new standards. The average ACT score for the class was 24. Thirty-seven members of the graduating class scored 30 or above on the ACT. Fifty-five students earned prestigious AP Scholar Awards. 64% of the graduates were awarded scholarships totaling over 13 million dollars. 92% of the graduates enrolled in college. The number of students who qualified for National Merit Scholarship were 4 finalists, 5 semi-finalists and 5 commended. McGill-Toolen has been voted the Best Private School by al.com for 8 years in a row. The extracurricular programs at McGill-Toolen are designed to develop talents and skills as well as qualities of leadership, scholarship, service and character. 80% of our students participate in one or more of the 50 extracurricular activities, with 75% participating in organized athletics. These include Spiritual Life and Service Clubs, Academic Clubs, Arts and Culture Clubs, Athletic Clubs, Journalism and Sports. The Physics Team took top honor at the University of Alabama Physics Competition. The Band ranked 10 in the state. We had 4 Azalea Trail Maids and 3 Oakleigh Belles. Seventeen seniors signed athletic scholarships. Eight varsity teams finished in the top 8 in the 6A division. Three athletes and one coach were named Press Register Players and Coach of the Year. One athlete was named the Bryant- Jordan Overall Scholar Athlete. Over the last three years, McGill-Toolen has added a fourth guidance counselor, providing one counselor per grade level. We have implemented a process for better preparation, assessing and tracking of our students. As we continue to strive for academic excellence, we have added additional Advanced Placement courses. And, to stay competitive in the technological world, students now have their own personal school account and the school stays in constant communication with the parents through The Buzz (an online blast). As we look forward, our vision is constantly growing with the times and needs of those we serve. Five areas are our top priorities: Finance, Buildings and Grounds, Advancement, Mission and Identity, and Academics. Each priority has suggestions for improvement/enhancement. In the area of Finance, issues to be addressed are enrollment forecast, a five year financial forecast and the Teacher Advanced Degree Program Fund. Regarding Buildings and Grounds, the safety and security of the campus, the restoration of the restrooms, the track, the Capital Campaign and the replacement of major equipment (Sprinturf, the roof and the HVAC) are all in serious dialogue for action. The area of Advancement is looking into the enrollment forecast and recruitment plan, additional parent involvement, and the increase in alumni relations. We will be developing a plan for the reduction of alcohol and illegal substance abuse as well as rewriting our Substance Abuse Policy. Regarding academics, we will continue to clarify the Core curriculum, identify benchmarks for success, improve test scores, research technology skills needed for success in college and in the workplace and we will strengthen our a technology committee. Page 4

7 Additional Information Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous sections. Additional Information is a school within a thriving community and it is a community within a thriving school. Our school is such a wonderful blending and melding of all great things Catholic: cultural, educational and spiritual. People on the outside looking in may not know of the great things we do or have to offer. Unknown or lesser known facts about McT are numerous. A good lead-off question would be "Did You Know That.."? Theology is a required core course for all students each year. Two annual retreats are offered to all students as well as one yearly grade level retreat. 180 students traveled on buses to Washington, D.C. in January for the March for Life. The school comes together as a whole to celebrate Mass monthly. The Campus Ministry Program has more than 20 members. We have a full-time chaplain and campus minister with a full-service chapel on campus. Reconciliation services are offered each school quarter. Mass is offered daily either in the chapel or nearby St. Mary's Catholic Church. Students participate in 9 service projects throughout the year through the Servants of the Poor Club and students are required to complete 10 service hours each semester. One program that we are particularly proud of is The St. Thomas Aquinas Scholars Program (Academy). This program came to life in the fall of This program of study is named in honor of the saint who Catholics believe to be the Church's greatest theologian and philosopher. The program is designed to challenge the most gifted and motivated students in a demanding course of study. The development of the students' abilities in all areas of the academic curriculum is emphasized along with various outside reading, writing, and extra activities. Students who complete this program will emerge as caring, capable, well-rounded young men and women ready to face worldly challenges and avail themselves of opportunities-armed with the strength of their faith and an exemplary academic program. They will live the philosophy of St. Thomas--"Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire and to know what he ought to do." Page 5