School Type: Public	School Setting: Rural
Level: K-12	School Design: Traditional
Content Presented By:
National Awards Program for Model Professional Development

Background Context

Demographics

The Geneva City School District is more than forty miles from the nearest metropolitan cities of Rochester, Ithaca, or Syracuse and serves approximately 2,500 students. It would be a "typical" rural district were it not for the pockets of urban poverty within the region. Geneva has the highest percentage of low income families in Ontario County — more than 95% of the county's low-income housing is located in the city of Geneva.

Student Racial/Ethnic Composition:

73% White (not of Hispanic origin)
15% African American (not of Hispanic origin)
9% Hispanic
1% American Indian or Alaska Native
1% Asian or Pacific Islander

LEP Students: 3%
Qualify for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch: 41%
Receive Special Education Services: 20%

Background

In 1993, recognizing that it had an aging teaching force and a changing student population, the district decided to devote substantial time and energy to long-term professional development strategies. After the initial wariness of teachers to accept a set of new programs, the faculty members in the district's schools have become believers as the district's support and empowerment have produced success with students.

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