VCS Curriculum, Assessment, & Instruction

Welcome to the Office of Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction, where the focus is to support student achievement through the continuous improvement of curriculum, instructional practices, and assessments that support student learning. At Vicksburg Community Schools, we are proud of our students’ achievements, the excellent instruction provided by our teachers, and the many educational programs offered to our students. We believe that our tradition of educational excellence is a result of the collaborative efforts of our shareholders – students, parents, staff, and community at-large. Together our tradition of excellence will not be compromised as we fulfill our mission of maximizing the success and potential of each student and staff in our district. 

Our district is committed to operating as a professional learning community. Our office supports this work by focusing on: 

Curriculum - What do we want students to know and be able to do?

Assessment - How will we know if they have learned?

InstructionWhat will we do to ensure that all students learn?

Student Supports - How will we respond when students haven’t learned?

The Vicksburg Community Schools’ curriculum is based upon high standards and expectations that promote rigor and relevance. We believe all students will learn and experience success through differing levels of support. Our goal is to provide high school graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to be ready for post-secondary education or to meet employers’ expectations for entry-level jobs.

VCS Vision, Mission, Beliefs and Continuous Improvement Plan


Indian Lake     Sunset Lake     Tobey

Curriculum

Assessment 

  • Summative Assessments (after instruction)
    • State Assessments
      • M-STEP ELA & Math - Grades 3rd-5th
      • M-STEP Science & Social Studies - Grade 5th
  • Benchmark Assessments (periodically throughout the year)
    • Standardized District Assessments
      • i-Ready Math - Grades K-5th
      • i-Ready Reading - Grades K-5th
    • Chapter, Unit, Module Assessments - Resource Embedded and/or Teacher Created: Grades K-5th
  • Formative Assessments (process during instruction)
    • Common Formative Assessment with Collaborative Teams using agreed upon methods, resources, and rubrics
      • Primary Instructional Resource
      • Illuminate
      • Teacher Team Created
    • Formative Assessment Practices in the Classroom such as exit tickets, conferencing, Illuminate On The Fly assessments
  • Progress Monitoring (periodically throughout the year for students not at grade level)
    • i-Ready Math - Grades K-5th
    • i-Ready Reading - Grades K-5th

Instruction 

  • Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
  • Primary Core Resources 
    • ELA - Curriculum Associates ELA Portfolio, UFLI Foundations
    • Math - Eureka Math
    • Science - Cereal City Science Kits
    • Social Studies - MiOpen Book, MC3

Student Support Services 

Vicksburg Middle School

Curriculum 

Assessment 

  • Summative Assessments (after instruction)
    • State Assessments
      • M-STEP ELA & Math - Grades 6th-7th
      • M-STEP Science & Social Studies - Grade 8th
      • PSAT ELA (EBRW) & Math - Grade 8th
  • Benchmark Assessments (periodically throughout the year)
    • Standardized District Assessments
      • i-Ready Math - Grades 6th-8th
      • i-Ready Reading - Grades 6th-8th
    • Chapter, Unit, Module Assessments - Resource Embedded and/or Teacher Created: Grades 6th-8th
  • Formative Assessments (process during instruction)
    • Common Formative Assessment with Collaborative Teams using agreed upon methods, resources, and rubrics
      • Primary Instructional Resource
      • Illuminate
      • Teacher Team Created
    • Formative Assessment Practices in the Classroom such as exit tickets, conferencing, Illuminate On The Fly assessments
  • Progress Monitoring (periodically throughout the year for students not at grade level)
    • i-Ready Math: Grades 6th-8th
    • i-Ready Reading: Grades 6th-8th

Instruction 

  • Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
  • Primary Core Resources
    • ELA - Savvas myPerspectives
    • Math - Agile Mind
    • Science - MiSTAR
    • Social Studies - TCI
  • Student Support Services - How will we respond when students haven’t learned?
    • Educational Supports and Intervention (formerly Special Education Services)
    • English Learner/Multilingual Learner Services
    • Math Intervention Services 
    • Reading Intervention Services 
    • School Counseling

Vicksburg High School

Curriculum 

Assessment

  • Summative Assessments (after instruction)
    • State Assessments
      • M-STEP Science & Social Studies - Grade 11th
      • PSAT ELA (EBRW) & Math - Grades 9th-10th
      • SAT ELA (EBRW) & Math - Grade 11th
  • Benchmark Assessments (periodically throughout the year)
    • Chapter, Unit, Module Assessments - Resource Embedded and/or Teacher Created
  • Formative Assessments (process during instruction)
    • Common Formative Assessment with Collaborative Teams using agreed upon methods, resources, and rubrics
      • Primary Instructional Resource
      • Illuminate
      • Teacher Team Created
    • Formative Assessment Practices in the Classroom such as exit tickets, conferencing, Illuminate On The Fly assessments

Instruction

  • Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
  • Primary Core Resources
    • ELA - Department Developed Literature-Based Units, AP Courses
    • Math - Agile Mind, Big Ideas, AP Courses
    • Science - Miller & Levine Biology, Activate Learning, Department Developed Units, AP Courses
    • Social Studies - Savvas American Government, TCI, Department Developed Units, AP Courses

Student Support Services 

Pathways High School

Curriculum 

Assessment 

  • Summative Assessments (after instruction)
    • State Assessments
      • M-STEP Science & Social Studies - Grade 11th
      • PSAT ELA (EBRW) & Math - Grades 9th-10th
      • SAT ELA (EBRW) & Math - Grade 11th
    • Benchmark Assessments (periodically throughout the year)
    • Standardized District Assessments
      • Renaissance STAR Math: Grade 9th
      • Renaissance STAR Reading - Grade 9th
    • Chapter, Unit, Module Assessments - Resource Embedded and/or Teacher Created: Grades BK-12th
  • Formative Assessments (process during instruction)
    • Formative Assessment embedded in primary instructional resource

Instruction 

Gail VanDaff

Curriculum Director
Phone: 269-321-1009

Katie Webster

Educational Supports & Intervention Supervisor
Phone: 269-321-1013