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Lyons Township High School wins high marks on climate survey
Who participated
In October, 1,323 parents, or about one-third of possible participants and 336 staff members, or about half, took the survey. Complications in the student email system led to 1,813 students, or about 45 percent, taking the survey in January.
A unique access code for each respondent prevented him or her from participating more than once. Under a 5-point rating system, a 5 signified strongly agree, a 1 meant strongly disagree, and in some cases, a 0 was for not applicable.
Complete results are available at http://www.lths.net/News/news0087.html
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Updated: July 8, 2012 8:13AM
Lyons Township High School students, staff and parents expressed high levels of satisfaction in a 2012 school climate survey, but identified room for improvement in communication, individualized instruction and easing academic stress.
Compared with nine other similar schools from across the country, LT parents ranked second in expressing overall satisfaction, third in approving of their child’s education and fourth in approval of the school’s fiscal responsibility.
But analysis of the results showed areas of concern for students’ emotional and social well-being. Some 64 percent of students agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoy going to school, and 55 percent agreed the school does a good job of helping students cope with peer pressure. Nineteen percent said they “often feel isolated or alone at school.”
“We will be resetting our goals digesting all this, “ said Superintendent Timothy Kilrea. “When kids, staff and parents speak, you want to listen. It’s overwhelmingly positive but room for a great institution to become even better.”
Based on a 5-point scale, student responses averaged 4.25 that academic stress is a problem, compared to 3.02 for parents and 3.92 for staff members. The three groups expressed similar averages agreeing students need more time during the day for academic support, the school does a good job helping students cope with peer pressure and LT does a good job teaching prevention of substance abuse.
School officials contracted with School Perceptions LLC, based in Slinger, Wis., to conduct online surveys in English and Spanish, as well as mail copies to those without Internet access. Students, staff and administrators were involved in developing some questions, and the survey firm analyzed results with comparisons to other schools.
For parents, 96 percent reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with the school; 93 percent strongly agreed or agreed LT’s fiscal policies are handled responsibly; and 89 percent strongly agreed or agreed their kids were “well prepared for college and/or life after high school.”
Students expressed similar approval with 94 percent who strongly agreed or agreed to being satisfied with their education; 90 percent strongly agreed or agreed they were proud of their school; and 86 percent said they felt well prepared for college or life after graduation.
Among staff members, 90 percent strongly agreed or agreed they would recommend LT to colleagues seeking a job, and 85 percent expressed satisfaction with LT’s fiscal management.
School Board President Mark Pera said he’d like more detailed questions on the academic stress issue.
“I don’t know why kids are feeling a lot of stress, whether that’s to do well to get a scholarship, to get into a school or make it easier on their parents,” Pera said. “In some respects, it would be nice to drill down in these numbers and find what it is we’re dealing with and how to approach it.”
