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School Report Card

Letter from the Principal

12/2/25

 Dear Parent/Guardian: 

 I hope the school year is off to a successful start for you and your child.  I am writing this letter to let you know that East Union Middle School has been designated as an Additional Targeted Support & Improvement (ATSI) school by the North Carolina State Board of Education.  Per ESSA Section 1111(d)(2)(C), schools are identified as ATSI schools in North Carolina because one or more of the following subgroups received a subgroup performance grade score at or below the highest identified CSI-LP school’s All Students group during the identification year; and is on the TSI-CU list for the subgroup(s) for the previous year. Subgroup performance scores are provided for the following subgroups: (1) Students with Disabilities, (2) Economically Disadvantaged, (3) Black, (4) White, (5) Hispanic, (6) Asian-Pacific Islander, (7) Multi-racial, and (8) English Learners. This letter is to notify our parents and guardians of East Union Middle School’s intentions to improve educational outcomes for underperforming student subgroups and close achievement gaps for all students. 

 As a ATSI school, East Union Middle School is required to develop an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) plan that specifically addresses how the school will improve outcomes for underperforming subgroups. The plan will also include strategies that our district or charter will employ to support East Union Middle School’s improvement efforts. The ATSI plan will address the following areas 

  • Classroom Management 
  • Standards-aligned Instruction 
  • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) 
  • Instructional Leadership 
  • Recruitment & Retention of Effective Teachers 
  • Support for Grade-to-Grade Transitions 
  • Implementation of a Tiered Instructional System 
  • Data-Driven Decision Making 
  • Student Support Services 
  • Family and Community Engagement 

 

We have set the following goals for East Union Middle School this year: 

  • 10% reduction in office referrals
  • 10% increase in overall proficiency (Levels 3, 4, or 5) on end-of-grade tests
  • 10% reduction in chronically absent students  

 

 

 

Here are some strategies that we will be implementing to improve student outcomes: 

 

  • Continuing to enforce schoolwide and UCPS systems of conduct consistently.
  • Continued emphasis on the PLC process (sharing best practices based on data protocols with intentional plans to remediate students, tracking proficient students and bubble students throughout the year on common assessments and Check-Ins).
  • Collective formative data in the moment by…
  • Emphasizing aggressive monitoring for small group instruction based on student mastery of the learning objective. 
  • Creation of impactful Tier-2 remediation plans in PLCs.
  • Improvement of the EUMS BT-Mentor Program.
  • Formal peer observation process for teachers.
  • Administrative team increasing its presence in classrooms with meaningful feedback for teachers. 
  • Continued use of the EUMS Student Incentive Points Program.
  • opportunities (AgTech Ambassadors, Student Government, Beta Club, EUMS Theatre, EUMS Student Lighthouse Team, etc.).
  • Increasing the 9th-grade enrollment in the FHHS AgTech Academy.
  • Increasing opportunities for community engagement (curriculum nights, EUMS Honor Roll Ceremonies, AgTech Family Night, AgTech Ambassador Ceremony, EUMS Theatre performances).
  • Continuing to utilize communications to engage with the community and tell our story.

Also, parent engagement is at the heart of our school improvement efforts. Here are some ways we can work together: 

  • Ensure that both you and your child know the academic expectations set for your child this school year.  A list of learning objectives in student-friendly language is available from your student’s teacher(s).  
  • Call East Union Middle School (704-290-1450) you have questions or concerns about your student or to set up an appointment to meet with a school staff member who will be working with your child.  
  • Make sure that your child is prepared and attends school each day. 
  • Monitor your child’s homework. 
  • Monitor the progress your child is making and attend meetings with your child’s teacher(s). 
  • Keep track of our website and social media sites:
    • Facebook: East Union Middle School
    • X: @EastUnionMSNC
    • Instagram: @EastUnionMSNC
  • Volunteer. 
  • Join the East Union PTO or East Union Middle School Site-Based Management Team

 Additionally, listed below are a few resources available to help:  

We are committed to improving student performance. It is important to remember that just as no single score or grade tells the whole story of a student, neither does it tell you everything about a school's performance or the opportunities that our school provides. The intent of receiving these designations is to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction. We’re excited about this school year and are working to make it a success for your child. Already, we have: 

  • Reduced the number of referrals by 15% through the first two terms of the school year compared to the 2024-2025 school year.
  • Reduced the number of days lost due to suspension by 43% through the first two terms of the school year compared to the 2024-2025 school year.
  • Increased overall proficiency on ELA NC Check-In #1 across all grade levels by 5% compared to the 2024-2025 school year.
  • Increased overall proficiency on 8th Grade Physical Science Check-In by 14% compared to the 2024-2025 school year.

If you have questions about the content of this letter, please contact Jared Gatewood at jared.gatewood@ucps.k12.nc.us or 704-290-1540. 

 Sincerely, 

 

Jared A. Gatewood, Ed.S

 

Principal

East Union Middle School

 

NC Report Card