PDP Section A.
Description of School/District (Revised 6/14/11)
Berlin Area School District
Berlin is a rural community with a population of 5,200 located 20 miles west of Oshkosh. The Berlin Area School District serves the City of Berlin, Nepeuskun, Rushford, Aurora, Poy Sippi, Bloomfield, Saxeville, Leon, Warren, Marion, Brooklyn, Seneca and St. Marie. The district is governed by a nine member school board elected at large. Public schools within the district include Clay Lamberton (K-5 and early childhood), Berlin Middle School (6-8), and Berlin High School (9-12). Washington School is the site for approximately 5-10 severely at-risk middle school and high school students. All schools, with the exception of Poy Sippi Elementary, are located in the City of Berlin and serve a student population of approximately 1600 in grades K-12. The district began a community based four year old kindergarten program in the fall of 2010 that serves an additional 92 students. The community sites include Gentle Hearts Academy, Berlin Community Day Care, St. John’s Lutheran School, All Saints School, and Prairie View Head Start. The district employs a Director of Instruction who coordinates 4K-12 curriculum, assessment, and staff development. A District Technology Coordinator and Technology Assistant/Audiovisual Coordinator assist staff in maintaining the district’s modern technology.
The community is generally low to middle class. The adjusted gross income in Berlin is only $33,458 (significantly lower than the $41,181 state average). Consequently, 37% of Berlin’s students qualify for free and reduced lunch. The percentage of free and reduced lunch in the Clay Lamberton K-5 building is significantly higher at 45%. The K-12 school population is 87.5% Caucasian (1400), 11% Hispanic (173), 1% Asian Pacific Islander (17) and seven additional students who are classified as “other”. There are approximately 140 resident limited English proficient (LEP) students, and the district also has an additional migrant population of 30-40 students that attend school in the fall and spring.
The Berlin Area School District services approximately 273 students with disabilities. Of that total, the percentage of students identified with primary impairments in each of the disability categories are as follows: Specific Learning Disability - 38%, Speech and Language Impairment - 34%, Cognitive Disability - 9%, Other Health Impaired - 7%, Emotional Behavioral Disability - 5%, Autism - 3%, Hearing Impairment - 2%, Significant Developmental Delay - 2%, and other low incidence (Visual Impairment, Orthopedic Impairment, or Traumatic Brain Injury) - less than 1%.
Clay Lamberton
Clay Lamberton Elementary was built in 1962 with additions being built in 1989 and 1992. The elementary is a pre-K-5 school with approximately 600 students. Over 60 professional staff members and many support staff provide services to the students. The elementary school has many excellent features. These include two computer labs with internet service, multipurpose room, full size gymnasium, smaller auxiliary gym with a climbing wall, full service LMC, music room and two art rooms. In addition, the district swimming pool is located at Clay. Other services include counseling, Title I, special education, and speech therapy. A full-time school psychologist and a full-time nurse for the district are also located in this building. Clay Lamberton School places a high priority on academics. The building goal is to meet or exceed the state mandates of “No Child Left Behind.” Special emphasis is directed toward reading, writing, and math. Guided reading levels in grades K-2 and reading lexile levels in grades 3-5 are used to differentiate literacy instruction. All students participate in a fall and spring writing assessment that is evaluated using a 6 trait model rubric. The math curriculum is guided by the Everyday Math program K-5. An after school tutoring program is available twice a week to assist students who qualify in grades 2-5.
Berlin Middle School
When the new high school was completed in 1996, the old high school was remodeled into what is now Berlin Middle School. Over 32 professional staff members and many support staff provide services to approximately 340 students. Berlin Middle School goal is to provide a learning environment that allows students to develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually at their own rate. Staff members provide students with guidance in problem solving and decision making. The middle school offers the required subjects of language arts, social studies, math, science, and physical education and
.5 credits of health is required for all 8th grade students. Exploration subjects include art, band, careers, choir, computer technology, creative problem solving, general music, home technology, theatre arts, industrial technology, and Spanish. The year is divided into six 6 week grading periods. Additional personal improvement programming includes the following opportunities for students: Student Council, WEB and STAND groups. A variety of sport, music, and journalism opportunities are available to students as extracurricular programs.
Berlin High School
Berlin High School is a modern facility built in 1996. The building is fully equipped with state of the art technology. Berlin operates on a trimester schedule with five 70 minute classes per day. Over 60 professional staff members and many support staff provide services to approximately 600 students. Each year teachers create academic department goals for students. The high school staff is in the third year of a building goal initiative to improve the rigor and relevance of our curriculum while improving relationships with students. The high school has a Dean of Students who also serves as the high school athletic director. Two school counselors assist students with course planning and career preparation. At-Risk students are provided with program support. Many students take advantage of the opportunity to take classes that are transcripted for Wisconsin Technical School system credit and UW system CAPP credit. On average, 40% of Berlin graduates attend a four year college or university, while 35% attend two year technical college. The remaining graduates enter the work force, military, apprenticeship programs, or specialty schools. Students may participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities which enrich the curriculum of the school.
