5Essentials Survey

Last week Wednesday, March 13, 2024, Okawville Jr./Sr. High School and Okawville Grade School took the 5Essentials Survey. I interviewed our principal, Mr. Rakers, and asked what the 5Essentials Survey does and how it helps our school. He responded with, “The survey digs into the culture and climate of a school and its community.  It also is part of our school report card that families look at online. Besides the school report card, I use the data to dig in and find areas of strength and weaknesses. I’m always sure to give praise to staff and students for our areas of strength….as well as work on areas of weakness during our 12:30 dismissal days. The 5Essentials is an evidence-based system designed to drive improvement in schools. It reliably measures changes in a school organization through the 5Essentials Survey and provides individualized, actionable Reports for each school. The 5Essentials system is based on provides data on five components found to be critical for school success: effective leaders, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environments, and ambitious instruction. The 5Essentials Survey is taken by all pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers and all fourth- through 12th-grade students. Parents are asked to take it as well. The information collected through the survey is rigorously reviewed and analyzed to generate a 5Essentials Report for each school. The 5Essentials Report includes a breakdown of teacher and student responses and, most importantly, provides a comprehensive picture of the school environment based on five essential areas critical for school improvement in a meaningful context of similar and successful schools.”