School Accountability Report Card Reported for School Year 2006-07 Published During 2007-08

2006-07 Executive Summary School Accountability Report Card

Winifred Pifer Elementary School
Address:  1350 Creston Rd. , Paso Robles   CA  93447-7010  Phone:  (805) 237-3393 
Principal:  Ruben  Canales, Ed.D.   Grade Span:  K  - 5  
This executive summary of the School Accountability Report Card (SARC) is intended to provide parents and community members with a quick snapshot of school accountability. The data presented in this report are reported for the 2006-07 school year, except the School Finances and School Completion data that are reported for the 2005-06 school year. For additional information about the school, parents and community members should review the entire SARC or contact the school principal or the district office. 

About This School

 
Winifred Pifer Elementary School’s mission is to promote a well-balanced curriculum that motivates student learning through challenging instructional strategies with high student expectations. We will provide a stimulating and nurturing environment where creativity, diversity and individuality are celebrated and where students become lifelong learners who are confident, competent, contributing members of society.

Of the six elementary schools in Paso Robles, Winifred Pifer is the largest school serving over 520 children. Significant academic gains have been in made in both language arts and mathematics. Open Court serves as the core English Language Arts program with children receiving an additional hour reading instruction at their reading performance level. Classroom teachers, four part time tutorial teachers, an English Language Development teacher and a Reading Specialist Teacher work collaboratively to ensure every child becomes a proficient reader.

Winifred Pifer Elementary School's biggest challenge is educating English Language Learners as they assimilate into their new language and culture. Action steps found in the Single School Plan address how the needs of English Language Learners will be met over the next three years.

A positive learning environment exists at Winifred Pifer Elementary. A dedicated teaching staff; as well as, support staff are committed to making a positive difference in the life of each child who attends Pifer School.

Student Enrollment 
Group  Enrollment 
Number of students  517 
African American  1.93  %
American Indian or Alaska Native  1.16  %
Asian  0.77  %
Filipino  0.19  %
Hispanic or Latino  56.48  %
Pacific Islander    %
White (not Hispanic)  36.94  %
Multiple or No Response  2.51  %
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged  52  %
English Learners  35  %
Students with Disabilities  6  %

Teachers 
Indicator  Teachers 
Teachers with full credential  33 
Teachers without full credential  0 
Teachers Teaching Outside Subject Area of Competence  0
Misassignments of Teachers of English Learners  0
Total Teacher Misassignments   0

School Facilities 
Summary of Most Recent Site Inspection 
Inspected 9/18/06. No major deficiencies found. Minor concerns (stained tiles, light ballasts) being addressed through normal work order system.
Repairs Needed 
No major repairs necessary Minor concerns addressed through normal work order system.
Corrective Actions Taken or Planned 
No major repairs necessary Minor concerns addressed through normal work order system.

Curriculum and Instructional Materials 
Core Curriculum Areas  Pupils Who Lack Textbooks and Instructiona Materials 
Reading/Language Arts  0%
Mathematics  0%
Science  0%
History-Social Science  0%
Foreign Language  0%
Health  0%
Science Laboratory Equipment  0%

School Finances 
Level  Expenditures Per Pupil (Unrestricted Sources Only) 
School Site  $ 4,647
District  $
State   $4,943

Student Performance 
Subject  Students Proficient and Above on California Standards Tests 
English-Language Arts   %
English-Language Arts   %
Science   %
History-Social Science   

Academic Progress 
Indicator  Result 
2007 API Growth Score (from 2007 API Growth Report)  750  
Statewide Rank (from 2007 API Base Report)  6  
2007-08 Program Improvement Status (PI Year)  Not in PI  

School Completion 
Indicator  Result 
Graduation Rate   

Postsecondary Preparation 
Measures  Percent 
Pupils Who Completed a Career Technical Education Program and Earned a High School Diploma   
Graduates Who Completed All Courses Required for University of California or California State University Admission   

2006-07 School Accountability Report Card Reported (SARC)
The School Accountability Report Card (SARC), which is required by law to be published annually, contains information about the condition and performance of each California public school. More information about SARC requirements is available at the California Department of Education (CDE) Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/. For additional information about the school, parents and community members should contact the school principal or the district office. DataQuest, an online data tool at http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/, contains additional information about this school and comparisons of the school to the district, the county, and the state.

I. About This School 

Contact Information 
This section provides the schools contact information. 
School  District 
School Name  Winifred Pifer Elementary   District Name  Paso Robles Joint Unified  
Street  1350 Creston Rd.   Phone Number  (805) 238-2222 
City, State, Zip  Paso Robles  , CA  93447-7010  Web Site  www.pasoschools.org 
Phone Number  (805) 237-3393  Superintendent  Kathleen McNamara, Ed.D.
Principal  Ruben  Canales, Ed.D.   E-mail Address  kmcnamara@king.prps.k12.ca.us
E-mail Address  rcanales@king.prps.k12.caus CDS Code 40-75457-6043160 

School Description and Mission Statement 
This section provides information about the school’s goals and programs. 
Winifred Pifer Elementary School’s mission is to promote a well-balanced curriculum that motivates student learning through challenging instructional strategies with high student expectations. We will provide a stimulating and nurturing environment where creativity, diversity and individuality are celebrated and where students become lifelong learners who are confident, competent, contributing members of society.

Of the six elementary schools in Paso Robles, Winifred Pifer is the largest school serving over 520 children. Significant academic gains have been in made in both language arts and mathematics. Open Court serves as the core English Language Arts program with children receiving an additional hour reading instruction at their reading performance level. Classroom teachers, four part time tutorial teachers, an English Language Development teacher and a Reading Specialist Teacher work collaboratively to ensure every child becomes a proficient reader.

Winifred Pifer Elementary School's biggest challenge is educating English Language Learners as they assimilate into their new language and culture. Action steps found in the Single School Plan address how the needs of English Language Learners will be met over the next three years.

A positive learning environment exists at Winifred Pifer Elementary. A dedicated teaching staff; as well as, support staff are committed to making a positive difference in the life of each child who attends Pifer School.

Opportunities for Parental Involvement 
This section provides information about opportunities for parents to become involved with school activities.  
 We are indebted to our very supportive and involved community. There are many opportunities for parents and community to be involved in the school’s academic and extracurricular activities. We are proud of our active PTA and the volunteers who have contributed thousands of hours. We appreciate the ongoing support we receive from our local businesses. The community takes pride in being involved in a wide variety of school activities. Student events are attended by supporters from all segments of the community, including merchants, school children, retirees, neighbors, parents and friends. Working together with our parents and the community, we are dedicated to preparing our students for success in school.

Student Enrollment by Grade Level 
This table displays the number of students enrolled in each grade level at the school. 
Grade Level  Number of Students 
Kindergarten  79 
Grade 1  100 
Grade 2  78 
Grade 3  80 
Grade 4  80 
Grade 5  100 
Grade 6  0 
Grade 7  0 
Grade 8  0 
Ungraded Elementary  0 
Grade 9  0 
Grade 10  0 
Grade 11  0 
Grade 12  0 
Ungraded Secondary  0 
Total Enrollment  517 

Student Enrollment by Group 
This table displays the percent of students enrolled at the school who are identified as being in a particular group. 
Group  Percent of Total Enrollment  Group  Percent of Total Enrollment 
African American  1.93  % White (not Hispanic)  36.94  %
American Indian or Alaska Native  1.16  % Multiple or No Response  2.51  %
Asian  0.77  % Socioeconomically Disadvantaged  52  %
Filipino  0.19  % English Learners  35  %
Hispanic or Latino  56.48  % Students with Disabilities  6  %
Pacific Islander    %    

Average Class Size and Class Size Distribution (Elementary) 
This table displays by grade level the average class size and the number of classrooms that fall into each size category (a range of total students per classroom). 
Grade Level  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
Avg. Class Size  Number of Classrooms  Avg. Class Size  Number of Classrooms  Avg. Class Size  Number of Classrooms 
1-20  21-32  33+  1-20  21-32  33+  1-20  21-32  33+ 
K  17.4  5      20.0  5      18.8  5     
1  20.0  3      20.0  3      19.2  5     
2  20.0  4      19.5  4      19.3  4     
3  18.8  6      19.4  5      20.0  4     
4  29.8    4    31.7    3    26.0    3   
5  27.8    5    31.4    5    24.8  1  1  2 
6                         
K-3          20.0  1             
3-4                         
4-8                         
Other                         

Participation in the Class Size Reduction Program 
This table displays the percent of students in kindergarten through grade 3 who were assigned to a classroom that participated in the Class Size Reduction Program. 
Grade Level  Percent of Students Participating 
2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
K  100 100 100
1  100 100 100
2  100 100 100
3  100 100 100

II. School Climate 

School Safety Plan 
This section provides information about the school's comprehensive safety plan. 
Safe School and Emergency Response Plans are on file at our school and the district office. Plans are regularly reviewed, and staff is trained annually. Evacuation drills are held on an ongoing basis, and staff members using dangerous chemicals also receive training.

There are four key elements of a safe school plan:
• Safe schools are caring schools. Students in safe schools feel respected and know that the people care about them and expect them to succeed.
• Safe schools are built through the cooperative effort of parents, students, staff and community members.
• Safe schools communicate high standards. Students know that learning and achievement are encouraged and highly valued.
• Safe schools are prepared. Ongoing training opportunities allow students and staff to increase their opportunity to deal with conflict, anger and other threats to safety. Safe schools have security checks on a regular basis to identify potential physical hazards or the school’s vulnerability to crime and vandalism.

 The Safe School Plan will be updated by March 1, 2008

School Discipline Practices 
This section provides information about the school's efforts to create and maintain a positive learning environment, including the school’s use of disciplinary strategies. 
Discipline
The key to our discipline plan at Pifer Elementary is communication with the home. Teachers are encouraged to phone parents whenever they have concerns or want to share positive comments. When behavior is serious enough, students are sent to the office to be counseled by the principal. At these times, the principal may make phone contact with parents or ask for a conference involving the student, the teacher, the parents, and the principal. Our endeavor is to turn undesirable behavior into positive behavior, and this works best when the school and the home work together for the benefit of the child. We recognize that children learn best in an environment that is stable and predictable, so we always strive to be firm and fair when dealing with discipline.

Grades and Absences
Grades and absences are monitored to identify students who need extra help, and appropriate intervention can take place through student and parent counseling, trained volunteer advisors, guided support groups, group and individual education on substance abuse, child abuse issues, and parenting education. Learning Environment/Positive achievements We also acknowledge that students thrive in an environment that recognizes their positive achievements, so the entire staff works hard to promote productive behavior. This begins in every classroom, where each teacher has designed his/her own behavior rewards system. On the playground, supervisors provide "Show Me Five" slips which are turned in to their teachers for  special awards.

Some of the program highlights Winifred Pifer School has to offer our students:
• State-of-the-art technology in classrooms & computer lab
• Early Intervention Reading assistance for identified students
• Primary Language instruction for students acquiring English
• Fine Arts integrated into the curriculum
• PTA-sponsored field trips for every classroom
• After-school academic support program
• An active Student Council
• Parent involvement in the classroom and with school activities
• Family Fun Nights sponsored by the PTA and Student Council
• Parent resource library with over 400 books and tapes for parents on a variety of topics
• Read-a-Thon recognizes and rewards students and parents for reading together
• DARE substance abuse prevention program for all fifth graders
• Principals Golden Homework Award Program
• Awards Assemblies
• Newcomer Program
• Targeted Assistance Program

Suspensions and Expulsions 
This table displays the rate of suspensions and expulsions (the total number of incidents divided by the total enrollment) at the school and district levels for the most recent three-year period. 
Rate  School  District 
2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
Suspensions  4.0   3.5   0.4   12.2   13.6   16.3  
Expulsions  0.0   0.0   0.0   0.6   0.6   0.6  

III. School Facilities 

School Facility Conditions and Improvements 
This section provides information about the condition of the school’s grounds, buildings, and restrooms, and a description of any planned or recently completed facility improvements. 
 Our facility is a modern comprehensive elementary school campus which includes 34 classrooms, a multipurpose room with a stage, a library, a computer technology lab, an office/workroom/lounge facility, a PRYDE day care program, a huge playground, and one County Special Day Class Preschool building. Due to the efforts of a dedicated custodial staff, the campus is extraordinarily clean and in excellent repair. Our head custodian handles many of the minor repairs, and more involved projects are dealt with promptly by district maintenance staff. Our school provides a safe, clean and well-equipped environment for students to learn. All school activities are supervised, and fire and disaster drills are performed on a regular basis.

Our custodial staff, teaching staff, and students take great pride in our facilities which are maintained in a manner that assures students have a clean, safe and functional environment in which to learn.  Our facilities exceed the "Good Repair" standard of the Williams Act.

School Facility Good Repair Status 
This table displays the results of the most recently completed school site inspection to determine the school facility’s good repair status. 
Item Inspected  Repair Status  Repair Needed and Action Taken or Planned 
Good  Fair  Poor 
Gas Leaks  Yes      
Mechanical Systems  Yes      
Windows/Doors/Gates (interior and exterior)  Yes      
Interior Surfaces (walls, floors, and ceilings)  Yes      
Hazardous Materials (interior and exterior)  Yes      
Structural Damage  Yes      
Fire Safety  Yes      
Electrical (interior and exterior)  Yes      
Pest/Vermin Infestation  Yes      
Drinking Fountains (inside and outside)  Yes      
Restrooms  Yes      
Sewer  Yes      
Playground/School Grounds  Yes      
Roofs  Yes      
Overall Cleanliness  Yes      

Overall Summary of School Facility Good Repair Status 
This table displays the overall summary of the results of the most recently completed school site inspection. 
Item Inspected  F