Community Analysis:
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
This analysis was completed in Spring 2014.
The Community of Signal Mountain
Signal Mountain Middle High School is located at 2650 Sam Powell Drive, Signal Mountain, TN. It is the only public secondary school in the community, though there are several private, secondary schools as well as a home school organization. A relatively young community, Signal Mountain was first inhabited in the early 1900’s, becoming chartered in 1919. Most of the first inhabitants were affluent Chattanoogans seeking escape from cholera and yellow fever epidemics at the time, as it is approximately ten miles from downtown Chattanooga. Since then it has grown to a population of 15,310.
The Signal Mountain population is made up of predominantly white, affluent residents. It is 48.1% male and 51.9% female with the median age for residents at 44.4 years. The white population makes up 97%, Hispanic residents make up 1.5%, the Asian population represents 1.2%, and those of Black or African American decent are at .3%. Of the 5,890 households, 83.6% own their own home, 16.4% rent, and 76.5% are families with the average household size of 3; 32.9% of those families have one or more children under age 18 living at home. Of the 15,310 people reportedly living in Signal Mountain, 99.3% make up a family household. These statistics are relatively consistent with the national average in general, though the percentage of white families is increased significantly (by about 20%) on the mountain, and the average age is slightly above the national average (38 years).
The median household income in 2011 was $76,357, whereas the state average was at $41,693. Housing unit median prices were at $283,641 on Signal Mountain compared to Tennessee at $138,300. Clearly, this is still an affluent community, and education is of importance to the residents, as 84.9% of the population has a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree, over twice the state averages. The community is relatively safe with all of its reported crime labeled as burglaries, thefts, and assaults, and those at relatively low numbers (223, 446, and 39 respectively) - no rape, murder, or arson; all of these well-below the U.S. average. There is no public transportation on the mountain, so all students who attend school either ride the school bus or come by car.
(2012). Signal Mountain, Tennessee. City-Data.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://www.city-data.com/city/Signal-Mountain-Tennessee.html
Signal Mountain Township. (2014). Town of Signal Mountain Tennessee. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://signalmountaintn.gov/
U.S. Department of Commerce. (2010). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml
The School Community: Signal Mountain Middle High School
As a public school, Signal Mountain Middle High School receives the same funding as all Hamilton County schools, and no Tennessee schools are noted highly in the area of per-pupil spending. In 2010, “the Census Bureau ranked Tennessee 49th - ahead of only Idaho and Utah” … “when controlling for inflation, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that per-pupil funding in Tennessee decreased by 0.9% from 2008 to 2013.” (Ochs, 2013, p. 9). After looking at inflation, it was determined that Hamilton County (the district of which Signal Mountain belongs) was spending -$321 per pupil.
Unlike many of the other Hamilton County schools, the Signal Mountain Middle High School population is primarily white, and they come from families of affluence who value education, basically mirroring its residential population. The school does, however, take in students from other areas - a program run through the district to offer opportunities to students who wish to participate outside of their home school area. With this, SMMHS brings in a population of 16.1% economically disadvantaged students; it is also relevant to note that approximately 100 students out of the registered 1,390 who attend qualify as having a disability. The are labeled as Severely Learning Disabled, Hearing Impaired, Autism, Learning Impaired, and Other Health Impairment. The services provided for these students include inclusion and some pull-out services. The school also services severely handicapped and mentally disabled students in a CDC room with approximately 30 students, and it serves 228 students labeled as "gifted."
Even with such modest means being provided by the district, technology is a priority at SMMHS, as nearly 98% of the students who attend Signal Mountain MHS own their own electronic device with which to use internet based programs, and this year, Signal Mountain was the first in the district to begin a BYOD program. To assist in this endeavor, Signal Mountain MHS has partnered with Apple to give the opportunity for students and parents to lease/purchase iPads for $25/mo at 2 years in an effort to make the purchase of these devices affordable for all, however, the school owns a collection of 100 devices to be checked out to students who are not able to afford them. All teachers have been provided with an iPad Air as well.
Additionally, as an International Baccalaureate school, the school has academic requirements that other schools in the district do not. For example, students are required to take foreign language grades 6 -12, a wide range of college-level coursework beginning in the 10th grade is offered, students are required to complete personal projects in grade 10, all are expected to participate and document community and service hours, students are required to participate in a two-year Theory of Knowledge course, IB students must complete the CAS program (a creative, action, service-oriented program) as well as a 4,000 word writing requirement before graduation; staff is also required to complete rigorous trainings in order to be qualified to teach the IB coursework.
In addition to the IB curriculum, the school provides top-notch resources for the students; these include programs like turnitin.com, managebac, Naviance, Power School, and Study Island - all subscription-based programs. It provides a Learning Center with 4 full-time tutors who work one-on-one with students who need assistance throughout the day, and it has 8 permanent support positions dedicated to the Special Ed program in assisting those students with their needs.
The primary way that the school is able to afford such beneficial programs is through the help from the Mountain Education Foundation, a non-profit organization run solely for the purpose of assisting the schools on Signal Mountain: Thrasher Elementary, Nolan Elementary, and Signal Mountain Middle High School. Since its inception in 1991, MEF has “provided more than $2.5 million in funding to enhance learning in the classroom” of the Signal Mountain schools (Mountain Education Foundation). Additionally, they raised over $3.5 million just to equip SMMHS when it was being built through the Founders Fund. They assist with such things as technology, classroom supplies, books, screenings, and curriculum expenses.
The school has a healthy PTSA, an athletic booster club, an iBooster (IB Program Booster club), a thriving sports program with multiple state championship titles, ROTC, active music and arts programs, and a plethora of clubs and organizations. And all of this support is evident in the school’s academic performance which far exceeds the results of most other Hamilton County schools. For example, on the math portion of the TCAP in 2012, SMMHS was the highest scoring school in the district by over 5%, and scoring, on average, 35% higher than the lowest scoring school in the district; results were similar in English; Signal Mountain also scored higher than any other school in the district on ACT testing. The range between 60-68% “proficient/advanced” in Algebra for grades 9-12 on TCAP testing, and between 62-91% “proficient/advanced” in English for grades 9-12 on the TCAP, with most other Hamilton County schools in the 30-50% range for math and 30-70% range for English. It is touted as performing with “test scores in the top 5% of the state and international academic standards” (McCullough, 2012.). The goal of SMMHS is to be listed as one of the nation’s top 100 schools.
(2013). 2013 TCAP Hamilton County scores. Chattanooga times free press. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://timesfreepress.com/tcap_hamilton/
(2013). Mountain Education Foundation. Retrieved on February 2, 2014, from http://meftoday.org/
Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies. (2013, May 28). State of the Chattanooga region report: Education. The Ochs center for metropolitan studies. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://ochscenter.org/documents/SOCRR2013_Education.pdf
McCullough, T. (2012, May 16). A message from Tom McCullough to Signal Mountain middle and high school. Chattanooga times free press. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/signal-mountain-principal-retiring-after-three-yea/
The Community of Signal Mountain
Signal Mountain Middle High School is located at 2650 Sam Powell Drive, Signal Mountain, TN. It is the only public secondary school in the community, though there are several private, secondary schools as well as a home school organization. A relatively young community, Signal Mountain was first inhabited in the early 1900’s, becoming chartered in 1919. Most of the first inhabitants were affluent Chattanoogans seeking escape from cholera and yellow fever epidemics at the time, as it is approximately ten miles from downtown Chattanooga. Since then it has grown to a population of 15,310.
The Signal Mountain population is made up of predominantly white, affluent residents. It is 48.1% male and 51.9% female with the median age for residents at 44.4 years. The white population makes up 97%, Hispanic residents make up 1.5%, the Asian population represents 1.2%, and those of Black or African American decent are at .3%. Of the 5,890 households, 83.6% own their own home, 16.4% rent, and 76.5% are families with the average household size of 3; 32.9% of those families have one or more children under age 18 living at home. Of the 15,310 people reportedly living in Signal Mountain, 99.3% make up a family household. These statistics are relatively consistent with the national average in general, though the percentage of white families is increased significantly (by about 20%) on the mountain, and the average age is slightly above the national average (38 years).
The median household income in 2011 was $76,357, whereas the state average was at $41,693. Housing unit median prices were at $283,641 on Signal Mountain compared to Tennessee at $138,300. Clearly, this is still an affluent community, and education is of importance to the residents, as 84.9% of the population has a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree, over twice the state averages. The community is relatively safe with all of its reported crime labeled as burglaries, thefts, and assaults, and those at relatively low numbers (223, 446, and 39 respectively) - no rape, murder, or arson; all of these well-below the U.S. average. There is no public transportation on the mountain, so all students who attend school either ride the school bus or come by car.
(2012). Signal Mountain, Tennessee. City-Data.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://www.city-data.com/city/Signal-Mountain-Tennessee.html
Signal Mountain Township. (2014). Town of Signal Mountain Tennessee. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://signalmountaintn.gov/
U.S. Department of Commerce. (2010). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml
The School Community: Signal Mountain Middle High School
As a public school, Signal Mountain Middle High School receives the same funding as all Hamilton County schools, and no Tennessee schools are noted highly in the area of per-pupil spending. In 2010, “the Census Bureau ranked Tennessee 49th - ahead of only Idaho and Utah” … “when controlling for inflation, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that per-pupil funding in Tennessee decreased by 0.9% from 2008 to 2013.” (Ochs, 2013, p. 9). After looking at inflation, it was determined that Hamilton County (the district of which Signal Mountain belongs) was spending -$321 per pupil.
Unlike many of the other Hamilton County schools, the Signal Mountain Middle High School population is primarily white, and they come from families of affluence who value education, basically mirroring its residential population. The school does, however, take in students from other areas - a program run through the district to offer opportunities to students who wish to participate outside of their home school area. With this, SMMHS brings in a population of 16.1% economically disadvantaged students; it is also relevant to note that approximately 100 students out of the registered 1,390 who attend qualify as having a disability. The are labeled as Severely Learning Disabled, Hearing Impaired, Autism, Learning Impaired, and Other Health Impairment. The services provided for these students include inclusion and some pull-out services. The school also services severely handicapped and mentally disabled students in a CDC room with approximately 30 students, and it serves 228 students labeled as "gifted."
Even with such modest means being provided by the district, technology is a priority at SMMHS, as nearly 98% of the students who attend Signal Mountain MHS own their own electronic device with which to use internet based programs, and this year, Signal Mountain was the first in the district to begin a BYOD program. To assist in this endeavor, Signal Mountain MHS has partnered with Apple to give the opportunity for students and parents to lease/purchase iPads for $25/mo at 2 years in an effort to make the purchase of these devices affordable for all, however, the school owns a collection of 100 devices to be checked out to students who are not able to afford them. All teachers have been provided with an iPad Air as well.
Additionally, as an International Baccalaureate school, the school has academic requirements that other schools in the district do not. For example, students are required to take foreign language grades 6 -12, a wide range of college-level coursework beginning in the 10th grade is offered, students are required to complete personal projects in grade 10, all are expected to participate and document community and service hours, students are required to participate in a two-year Theory of Knowledge course, IB students must complete the CAS program (a creative, action, service-oriented program) as well as a 4,000 word writing requirement before graduation; staff is also required to complete rigorous trainings in order to be qualified to teach the IB coursework.
In addition to the IB curriculum, the school provides top-notch resources for the students; these include programs like turnitin.com, managebac, Naviance, Power School, and Study Island - all subscription-based programs. It provides a Learning Center with 4 full-time tutors who work one-on-one with students who need assistance throughout the day, and it has 8 permanent support positions dedicated to the Special Ed program in assisting those students with their needs.
The primary way that the school is able to afford such beneficial programs is through the help from the Mountain Education Foundation, a non-profit organization run solely for the purpose of assisting the schools on Signal Mountain: Thrasher Elementary, Nolan Elementary, and Signal Mountain Middle High School. Since its inception in 1991, MEF has “provided more than $2.5 million in funding to enhance learning in the classroom” of the Signal Mountain schools (Mountain Education Foundation). Additionally, they raised over $3.5 million just to equip SMMHS when it was being built through the Founders Fund. They assist with such things as technology, classroom supplies, books, screenings, and curriculum expenses.
The school has a healthy PTSA, an athletic booster club, an iBooster (IB Program Booster club), a thriving sports program with multiple state championship titles, ROTC, active music and arts programs, and a plethora of clubs and organizations. And all of this support is evident in the school’s academic performance which far exceeds the results of most other Hamilton County schools. For example, on the math portion of the TCAP in 2012, SMMHS was the highest scoring school in the district by over 5%, and scoring, on average, 35% higher than the lowest scoring school in the district; results were similar in English; Signal Mountain also scored higher than any other school in the district on ACT testing. The range between 60-68% “proficient/advanced” in Algebra for grades 9-12 on TCAP testing, and between 62-91% “proficient/advanced” in English for grades 9-12 on the TCAP, with most other Hamilton County schools in the 30-50% range for math and 30-70% range for English. It is touted as performing with “test scores in the top 5% of the state and international academic standards” (McCullough, 2012.). The goal of SMMHS is to be listed as one of the nation’s top 100 schools.
(2013). 2013 TCAP Hamilton County scores. Chattanooga times free press. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://timesfreepress.com/tcap_hamilton/
(2013). Mountain Education Foundation. Retrieved on February 2, 2014, from http://meftoday.org/
Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies. (2013, May 28). State of the Chattanooga region report: Education. The Ochs center for metropolitan studies. Retrieved January 30, 2014, from http://ochscenter.org/documents/SOCRR2013_Education.pdf
McCullough, T. (2012, May 16). A message from Tom McCullough to Signal Mountain middle and high school. Chattanooga times free press. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/signal-mountain-principal-retiring-after-three-yea/