About 150 students transfer to Robious Middle School
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

About 150 students scheduled to attend Falling Creek Middle School this fall are transferring to Robious Middle School after Falling Creek failed to meet state achievement standards mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). School officials arranged class schedules and transportation so the transfer could start Sept. 5.

School Community Relations Director Debra Marlow was not sure if additional trailers would be needed to offset the influx of students to Robious. Last fall, Robious began the school year with six trailers. To make room for the additional students, one option would be for teachers to give up their classrooms when classes are not scheduled. It was also not known how many additional teachers might have to transfer to Robious.

The Chesterfield school system was required to give the transfer option because federal law allows students to transfer when a Title I school (Falling Creek) doesn't meet NCLB achievement standards.

Last month, Falling Creek was classified as "in need of improvement," because it did not meet the minimum goals for reading in the limited English proficiency, Hispanic and students with disabilities subgroups, and in the disabled students subgroup in math.

Chesterfield schools selected Robious for the transfer, because it consistently met NCLB standards. Classroom space was also a factor. Last fall, Robious was one percent over the school's functional capacity of 1,089 students while other schools considered by CCPS-Swift Creek and Midlothian middle schools-were more overcrowded.

The offer of the transfer is necessary for CCPS to continue receiving federal school funding. Parents from both schools met Aug. 29 at Robious to learn the details of the transfer. "There was a civil discourse," said Marlow.

CCPS is currently working with the parents of the Falling Creek students who are transferring to implement a plan to provide minimal disruption to their children. CCPS will provide bus transportation for former Falling Creek students to Robious, but it does not include later transportation for those involved in extracurricular activities and sports.

Because Falling Creek has to meet all 29 NCLB standards for two consecutive years, those transferring would attend Robious for a minimum of two years unless they are currently eighth graders. A current sixth grader can ask for a waiver to attend all three years at Robious, but will have to provide his/her own transportation after Falling Creek meets NCLB standards.

"Those students going on to high school would go back to their home high school," explained Marlow.

To meet the Virginia Department of Education standards, Falling Creek is increasing time in reading, writing and math instruction, and making sure all teachers are highly qualified in their content area. Remediation after school is provided three days a week and through ongoing staff development.