Mora High School - Mora, NM

Through a student-centered learning community, Mora High School has successfully met its mission and vision in providing the best opportunity for students to attain academic achievement. Although students’ interests and learning style are appreciably unique, the shared and accomplished ideals of curriculum, instruction and assessment practices have contributed to educational realization.

The course to success unquestionably is contingent on effective leadership qualities that build trusting relationships. By implementation of Professional Learning Communities, (PLCs), the invigoration and sustainment of a positive climate was established. Collaborative planning and sharing at PLC and providing teachers with the necessary resources are primary. The resulting culture of affirmative belief systems have assured Mora High School to meet and exceed its yearly measurable objective; AMO. Seven years following this initiative, student proficiency in Mathematics surged from about 3% to almost 70%. Reading proficiency was also similarly consistent with this progressive increase in student achievement. It is worthy of remark, that almost every year during this period, 100% of Mora High School’s graduates have enrolled in post secondary education or enlisted with the military.

Disaggregation of student achievement data is paramount and fundamental in making any decision relative to program planning - patterns in data dictate specific courses of action. The tactical implementation of instructional strategies, positive behavior systems, and most notably, the integration of higher-order thinking, culminated in student achievement and advancement, supported by data.

Embracing 21st Century learning skills and fully realizing the needs of today’s digital learners, the school district installed interactive white boards in all classrooms and upgraded its existing technology to promote student engagement in accommodating today’s creative scholar. Notwithstanding, all innovations, implementations and strategic planning call for parent and community involvement.

From implementation of a challenging curriculum to policy design and/or revision, stakeholders have a voice.