Woodland maintains small school feel

Woodland Middle School

Address: 7000 Washington St. in Gurnee

Phone: (847) 856-3400

Web site: www.dist50.net/Middle/index.html

District's name and/or Web site: www.dist50.net

Number of students/grade levels offered: 2,445 pupils in grades six through eight

Number of staff: 260

School mascot: Wildcat

When was school built: 1997

Little-known fact: Woodland Middle School is the largest middle school in Illinois. That's according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Principal: Scott Snyder

• He has been at the school for seven years, the last five as principal.

• What is his favorite memory from Woodland Middle School? "There are so many to choose from, but I really enjoy our eighth-grade promotion ceremonies each spring. Seeing the students all dressed up and in their gowns, being recognized for successfully completing their elementary school careers, is very rewarding for both the staff and myself."

• What do you think is an unique aspect of your school? "Very few middle schools in the country are as large as Woodland Middle School. However, despite our size, we are able to maintain a small school atmosphere and high levels of student achievement via implementation of the middle school concept and small class sizes."

• What are you most proud of? "I am most proud of the increases in student achievement that we have realized over the past two years. Through the hard work of our students and staff, Woodland Middle School has been honored each of the past two years by the Illinois State Board of Education as one of a relatively small number of schools to be recognized for high levels of academic improvement as measured by the ISAT tests."

• If all school enrollments were determined by choice, what would you say to potential parents to convince them to choose Woodland Middle School for their children? "Many parents new to our school community initially express concern about our school's size, as virtually every new student is coming to us from a much smaller school. Despite our size, the way we are organized into much smaller learning communities provides a small school feel for our students. Students are assigned to teams of 100 students and share the same teachers for the four core curricular areas -- language arts, math, science and social studies. Core class sizes average under 25 students per class. Additionally, our large size provides our students with a wide variety of extra and co-curricular activities in which they can become involved. Woodland Middle School students have over 70 activities, clubs and athletic teams from which to choose."

• How has technology changed the way students learn over the past five years? Has that been a good change? "Computers and related technologies have become common tools that students utilize to assist them with their learning, just as textbooks, encyclopedias and pencils have done for decades. Computers provide students with additional opportunities to actively interact with and participate in their learning. The use of technology in schools is essential in order for us to best prepare our students for the world they will find themselves in upon completion of their formal education."

• If you can get one thing accomplished between now and the end of May in your school, what would it be? "If I had to choose just one thing, I would love to be ready for the 2008-2009 school year to begin -- meaning having schedules for each of our 2,400-plus students and any staff vacancies filled. It's always done by August, but it would be wonderful to be done by May."