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Low-Performing School Letter 2025-26

 

October 31, 2025

Dear Parent/Guardian:

I am writing this letter to notify you that Sycamore Lane Primary School has been dually designated as both a North Carolina Low-Performing school and a federally identified Targeted Support & Improvement Additional Targeted Support (TSI-AT) school by the North Carolina State Board of Education.  

As defined in G.S. 115C-105.37: “The State Board of Education shall identify low-performing schools on an annual basis. Low-performing schools are those that earn an overall school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "met expected growth" or "not met expected growth" as defined by G.S. 115C-83.15.” Legislation (G.S. §115C-83.15) passed during the 2013 long North Carolina General Assembly session provides parents with an additional measure of school performance in the form of School Performance Grades. Beginning with the 2013–14 school year, the annual North Carolina School Report Cards display a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F for each school in the state. 

School Performance Grades are based 80 percent on our school’s achievement score (student proficiency) and 20 percent on students’ academic growth. At Sycamore Lane Primary School, we are the feeder school for Sycamore Lane Elementary School. As Sycamore Lane Primary School is connected to Sycamore Lane Elementary School we will receive the same designation for the 2024-2025 school year. 

In addition, per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Section 1111(d)(2), schools receive the federal identification of TSI-AT in North Carolina by having one or more of the following subgroups receive a subgroup performance grade score at or below the lowest 5% of schools across the state during the 2022-2023 academic year; and being identified as a consistently underperforming subgroup for the previous year. Subgroup performance scores are provided for the following subgroups of students: (1) Students with Disabilities, (2) Economically Disadvantaged, (3) Black, (4) White, (5) Hispanic, (6) Asian-Pacific Islander, (7) Multi-racial, and (8) English Learners. 

As a dually designated TSI-AT and NC low-performing school, Sycamore Lane Primary School  is required to develop a comprehensive improvement plan that specifically addresses how the school will improve student achievement. The plan will also include strategies that our district or charter will employ to support Sycamore Lane Primary School improvement efforts.  The comprehensive improvement plan will address the following areas: 

  • Classroom Management
  • Standards-aligned Instruction
  • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
  • Instructional Leadership
  • Recruitment & Retention of Effective Teachers
  • Support for Grade-to-Grade Transitions
  • Implementation of a Tiered Instructional System
  • Data-Driven Decision Making
  • Student Support Services
  • Family and Community Engagement

We have set the following goals for Sycamore Lane Primary School this year:

  • By June 2026 through small group instruction and pre and post assessment data, SLPS will increase overall student performance in mathematics by 5 proficiency points, as measured by HMH Growth Measure.  
  • By June 2026, Sycamore Lane Primary will increase parent involvement by 10%.
  • By June 2026 through weekly interventions, and monthly progress monitoring of literacy components, SLPS will increase it's overall student performance in literacy by 5 proficiency points.  
  • By June 2026, Sycamore Lane Primary will execute the MTSS process with 85% accuracy to attend to the social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs of its students.

Here are some strategies that Sycamore Lane Primary School will be implementing to improve student outcomes:

  • Each Kindergarten teacher has a teacher assistant with them daily
  • Grades 1st-2nd have a person that comes in daily to help with tutoring for reading and   math
  • Tutors will be available during the day to tutor different groups
  • Weekly SEL lessons to promote responsibility, cooperation, and concern for others.
  • Sapphires and Suspenders - group of student leaders who are positive influencers in the school and work to improve our school and the community.
  • Sapphires and Suspenders- students are selected by theirteachers to serve roles in the setting improvement goals 
  • PBIS program has been revamped to include- “Caught Being Good Tickets” for students to have a chance to win a prize if their name is drawn at the end of the month
  • PBIS events each nine weeks 
  • MTSS interventions for academics and social emotional learning
  • MTSS PLCs to discuss student interventions
  • Additional Parent Night events
  • Parents are being informed through Class Dojo, Facebook, and weekly phone calls  from Mrs. Mishue the principal

Parent engagement is at the heart of our school improvement efforts. Here are some ways you can help:

  • Ensure you and your child know the academic expectations for this school year. A list of learning objectives in student-friendly language is available from your child’s teacher(s).
  • Contact Mrs. Mishue if you have questions or concerns about your child or to set up an appointment to meet with a school staff member who will be working with your child.
  • Make sure that your child is prepared and attends school each day.
  • Monitor your child’s homework.
  • Monitor the progress your child is making and attend meetings with your child’s teacher(s).
  • Keep track of our website and social media sites .
  • Volunteer.
  • Join the Sycamore Lane Parent-Teacher Organization

Additionally, listed below are a few resources available to help: 

Graduation requirements: www.ncpublicschools.org/gradrequirements/

We are committed to improving student performance. It is important to remember that just as no one single score or grade tells the whole story of a student, neither does it tell you everything about the performance of a school or the opportunities that our school provides. The intent of receiving these designations is to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction. We’re excited about this school year and are working to make it a success for your child. Already, we have:

  • Implemented daily greetings from all staff members for students
  • Decreased student misbehavior
  • Developed a peer reading program

If you have questions about the content of this letter, please contact Mrs. Wenona Mishue  at wenona.mishue@scsnc.org and 910-261-0001.

Sincerely,

Wenona H. Mishue

Wenona Mishue. Principal

Sycamore Lane Primary