UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Student: Katy Clifford School: Addison Trail High School Term: Fall 2017

Your site visit experience offers you the opportunity to learn how schools operate as a large community promoting the growth of a
learner. School environment is determined by the schools culture, its history, its belief in how to do things and what is worth doing.
Become familiar with the school environment by completing the table below. Accomplish this by using the host schools website, the
Illinois Public K-12 School Rankings based on the Report Card and school personnel interviews.

Demographics
The following elements look at the demographic information of a school.
The demographic information of a school can provide an excellent look at the diversity of the school environment.
What is/are the Answer Resource for the Answer: Persons
name and title, document or website.
Current school enrollment 2,005 Illinois Interactive Report Card

Percentage of various races and ethnicities 30.4% -White Illinois Interactive Report Card
2.2% - Black
61.7% - Hispanic
3.7% - Asian
.7% - American Indian
1.1% - Two or more Races
0% - Pacific Islander
Number of males and females as per school 46.7% Female Illinois Interactive Report Card
report card 51.3% Male
Percent of low income students 52.6% are low income students Illinois Interactive Report Card

Percent of students with IEPs 13% have an IEP Illinois Interactive Report Card

Percentage of English Language Learners 7.7% are English Learners Illinois Interactive Report Card
Composite percent of students who meet 21% met or exceeded state standards on Illinois Interactive Report Card
and exceed state standards the PARCC exams
# of FTE (full time equivalency) teachers 239 Illinois Interactive Report Card
School Organization
The following elements identify various aspects of the organization of the school.
By understanding the school organization, teachers can better plan their lessons and their day.
School Mission Statement To work for the continuous improvement of Addison Trail High School Website
student achievement

Length of school day for students
Length of school day for contracted
staff
Number of minutes per class or time
allotted for each subject
Number of minutes for specials
Art, P.E., Music, etc.
Elective classes offered
Extracurricular activities offered
Types of duties which teachers are
assigned
Monday students have a late start: 9:00 am
3:00 pm
Tuesday-Friday: 7:45am 3:00 pm
Seven and 1/3 hours consecutive clock hours
Monday through Friday and cannot begin before
7:30 am
Each class period is 45 minutes long, and
Tuesday-Friday Resource period is 35 mins long
10:15am 10:50 am
Same amount of time given to other subjects. It is
during a regular class period
Art, Business Education, Family & Consumer
Education, Industry and Technology, Music,
World Languages
Musical, Drama Production, Orchesis, Athletics
(football, baseball, softball, cheerleading, soccer,
volleyball, golf, dance, etc.)
1 extra-curricular responsibility
Participation on curriculum, personnel,
or policy committees directly related to
Dupage High School District #88
Student-Parent Handbook
Dupage High School District #88 Teacher
Contract
Dupage High School District #88
Student-Parent Handbook
Vicki Ream, Special Education Teacher
Addison Trail High School website
Dupage High School District #88
Student-Parent Handbook
Dupage High School District #88 Teacher
Contract

Types of communication between
the school, home, and community
Types of all-school or grade level
assemblies
School colors and mascot
Student and faculty dress code
educational programs
A maximum of 2 chaperone
assignments for graduation exercises,
art, drama, or music events that involve
student participation in the evenings or
on Sunday afternoons
No teacher will be assigned lunchroom
duty without consent.
Between school and home: Emails, phone calls, Vicki Ream, Special Education Teacher
and conferences are used as needed depending on
each situation.
Homecoming assembly, Holiday music Addison Trail High School Website
assembly, Honor roll assembly
Navy Blue and White Vicki Ream, Special Education Teacher
Blazer at Addison Trail
Student Dress Code: Students shall wear Dupage High School District #88
appropriate clothing and footwear and groom Student-Parent Handbook
themselves for school in a manner that does not
offend the rules of decency or reflect negatively
on, or detract from any phase of the educational
program. Requirements of certain areas of the
school program may necessitate further
restrictions of dress and grooming. The following
is a list of apparel/items that may not be
worn/visible in a District #88 High School:
1. Inappropriate garments (i.e. see-through,
tight, excessively short, midriff tops,
halter tops, strapless tops, backless tops,
revealing-exposed cleavage, visible
undergarments, pants that fit below the
waist, potentially dangerous jewelry,
jewelry excessive in size and length,
etc.)
2. Extremes in hairstyles or make-up.
3. Headwear*, coats, sunglasses, bandanas,
and hairnets.
4. Clothing/accessories/tattoos which
could be construed as depicting or
promoting the illegal, the immoral, or
the obscene, specifically items which
depict or refer to alcohol, drugs, gangs,
obscenities, or weapons.
5. Physical education clothing, except in
gym classes or as approved by staff.
*Except for hats worn as a part of an authorized
athletic uniform on the way to or during the
athletic event or practice or as authorized for
religious belief or for medical reasons.
Administratively approved team uniforms may
by worn on days designated as appropriate by the
administration.
Faculty: Business Casual Monday through
Thursday. Friday is spirit day
Assistance
 The following elements identify various types of assistance available to students and faculty.
Identifying and understanding the various types of assistance available to students and teachers provides a teacher with a greater
Student intervention plans such as
Response to Intervention (RTI)
Provisions for students so that they
can participate in extracurricular
activities (e.g. transportation)
Types of technology available for
teachers
Types of technology available for
students
Types of professional development
available to staff
The following elements provide a greater understanding of the policies that exist in a school environment.
Read and summarize the Schools
digital etiquette policy for students.
Staff credentials to sponsor
extracurricular activities
Philosophy of the school library or
learning center
Study hall policies for students and
teachers
Lunchroom policies for students and
teachers
Hallway policies: during class time
and between classes
School discipline policy
sense of community.
Transportation is provided, early morning bus Vicki Ream, Special Education Teacher
and late bus. at Addison Trail
Each teacher is given their own laptop to use Vicki Ream, Special Education Teacher
throughout the year, in the classrooms there are at Addison Trail High School
smartboard and/or projectors.
There are about 100 mobile laptops that are Vicki Ream, Special Education Teacher
shared among all of the classrooms. There are at Addison Trail High School
pilot classes that give some students laptops to
use throughout the school year. There are also
computer labs throughout the school that are for
student use.
Work Experiences, Workshops, Conferences, Dupage High School District #88 Teacher
Conventions, Seminars, Contract
Policies
1. All use of electronic network use must Dupage High School District #88
be consistent with the schools goal of Student-Parent Handbook
promoting educational excellence by
facilitating resource sharing,
innovation, and communication.
These rules do not attempt to state
all required or proscribed behavior
by users. However, some specific
examples are provided. The failure of
any user to follow these rules will
result in the loss of privileges,
disciplinary action, and/or
appropriate legal action.
Must fill out a proposal, receive 20 signatures, Addison Trail High School Website
and get everything approved by the assistant
principal
None Addison Trail High School website
READ READ READ and return your books
on time!
All students and staff participate in a Resource Vicki Ream, Special Education Teacher
Period. Each day the Resource Period is 35
minutes long, and all students and staff
participate at the same time.
Littering, leaving trays or other refuse, throwing Dupage High School District #88
things/or inappropriate behavior in or about the Student-Parent Handbook
cafeteria and halls.
Teachers will not be assigned lunchroom duty
without their consent.
Once a class begins, students are not allowed in Dupage High School District #88
restricted hallways without a pass. Students are Student-Parent Handbook
not permitted in restricted areas without
permission.
The Board of Education believes that every Dupage High School District #88
student, who has a sincere desire to remain in Student-Parent Handbook
school, to be diligent in study, and to profit by

Emergency procedure plans (fire,
tornado, evacuation, and lockdown)
the educational experiences offered, will have the
opportunity for educational success. It is
expected that each student will comply with the
established, well-defined school rules and
regulations. Moreover, students are prohibited
from engaging in conduct that, in any way,
disrupts the educational process or infringes upon
the rights of others.
Fire: When the fire alarm sounds, students and Dupage High School District #88
teachers MUST leave the building by designated Student-Parent Handbook
exits. They should move to a minimum distance
of 100 feet from the building and remain there.
An administrator will indicate when to return to
classes.
Tornado: When an administrator announces that
a tornado is in the vicinity, teachers and students
should move to the designated lower floor and
stay near an interior wall. The most important
thing is to stay away from all forms of glass.
Emergency Closing Days: When emergency
conditions are so severe that Addison Trail and
Willowbrook High School will close, an Alert
Now computer phone system will call each
home.