Profile of North Cumberland Middle School
North Cumberland Middle School is one of two middle schools in the town of Cumberland, RI. The school first opened in 1971 to serve middle school aged students in the northern part of town. Due to increasing enrollment, an addition was constructed in 1994. There have not been any major upgrades to the school’s infrastructure since this time.
The school currently services 691 students in grades 6 through 8. The ethnic breakdown of the student body is: 96% White, 1% Hispanic, 1% Black, and 2% Asian/Pacific Islander. Presently, 5% of students receive free or reduced lunch and 17% of students are on Individualized Education or 504 Plans.
The faculty and staff currently consists of 50 full and part time teachers, 2 guidance counselors, 1 school nurse teacher, 1 part-time school psychologist, 1 part-time social worker, 9 paraprofessional teaching assistants, 5 custodians, 1 administrative assistant, a principal, and an assistant principal. The school also shares the services of a part-time school resource officer through the Safe Schools Grant.
The school’s instructional program revolves around a teaming structure. Students in each grade are assigned to a team and share core academic teachers in the areas of math, science, English, and social studies. In addition, a special educator and at least one paraprofessional teaching assistant are attached to each team. These professionals have common planning time every other day. During their scheduled day, students also receive instruction in reading or world language, physical education/health, and a unified arts offering which rotates through Art, Computer Applications, Family & Consumer Science, and Industrial Technology. All students have a period of Academic Enrichment during which time they have the opportunity to take Band or Chorus, General Music, Library Skills, receive special services or remedial instruction, or engage in academic self study or silent reading. Students have the opportunity to participate in many athletic and extra-curricular activities after the end of the regular school day.
Like all middle schools throughout the state of Rhode Island, the school is currently working to align its practices with the Board of Regents Regulations on Middle Level Reform. The school has been engaged in self study for a number of years using professional development and best practice ideas promoted by the Rhode Island Middle Level Educators Association, New England League of Middle Schools, and National Middle School Association. The school has been consistently distinguished as high performing and was named a Regents Commended School by the Rhode Island Department of Education in 2007.