What is Project X-CD?
Project X-CD is a school-within-a-school alternative education program to serve academically at-risk general education middle school students. Through intensive and specialized instruction, Project X-CD strives to accelerate its students to grade level academic competency within one, two, or three years. Although improved student achievement is the core goal of Project X-CD, additional long–term goals of the program are to increase student attendance thus reducing the dropout rate of at-risk middle school students and to modify and prevent inappropriate student behavior.
What is the Project X-CD instructional design?
Project X-CD is housed in three schools: Corporate Landing Middle School (grades 6, 7, and 8), Larkspur Middle School (grades 6, 7, and 8), and Plaza Middle School (grades 6 and 7). Teams of teachers serve sixty (60) students per grade level. Students are scheduled into intensive uninterrupted blocks of time to provide focused instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics. All core subjects are taught and approached through interdisciplinary lessons. Students also participate in exploratory classes of their choice as well as health and physical education. Students are taught the Virginia Beach City Public Schools curriculum through flexible grouping and alternative methods of instruction that focus on conceptual understandings of content. In conjunction with ongoing classroom assessments, VBCPS subject area diagnostic pre- and post assessments are used to guide and differentiate student instruction and determine student academic growth.
How is a student referred to the Project X-CD program?
Multiple criteria are used to identify students for placement in Project X-CD. Using a scoring matrix, students are evaluated on several indicators that may place a student at risk of academic failure. The student’s educational history is reviewed based on academics, attendance, standardized test score data, mobility, and grade retentions.
How do students exit the Project X-CD program?
Students exit Project X-CD after the sixth grade if they demonstrate sustained, above-average academic achievement (measured by classroom performance, VBCPS subject area posttests, and the sixth grade Stanford 9 test), significant improvement in school attendance, and the absence of discipline referrals. Students may be recommended for exit from Project X-CD by the student’s parent/guardian, teacher, administrator, and/or guidance counselor.
Students attending Plaza middle school automatically exit the program after seventh grade. The eight-grade year serves as a transition year for these students to demonstrate their ability to maintain and sustain academic achievement. Core team remediation (SOL lab) opportunities are offered as academic support to these students during this transition year. Before-and/or after-school tutoring may also be recommended if indications of student academic downshifting are apparent. At the end of the eighth grade, students are evaluated on Grade Eight SOL test results, course grades, and attendance. If a student’s academic progress indicates further support, recommendations are made which may include, but are not limited to, middle school summer school and/or a high school ninth grade transition program.
Students attending Corporate Landing and Larkspur middle schools may continue in Project X-CD during the eighth grade.
Should students transfer from their Project X-CD home school and then return during the year, they are re-admitted to the program if space is available. If no spaces are available at the time of their return, they are put at the top of the waiting list. If Project X-CD students transfer from their home school to another school within the school division, they are recommended for Project X-CD in the school to which they are transferring, should a program exist and space is available. If placement in Project X-CD in not an option, the student should be referred to the school’s Student Support Team for evaluation and appropriate support recommendations.
Whom can I contact for additional information about Project X-CD?
Larkspur Middle School
Principal: Dianne Cunningham
E-mail: dianne.cunningham@vbschools.com
4696 Princess Anne Road
Virginia Beach, BA 23462
Telephone: 757.648.4800
Fax: 757.474.8598
Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Mon. - Fri.
Corporate Landing Middle School
Principal: Joe Burnsworth
E-mail: joe.burnsworth@vbschools.com
1597 Corporate Landing Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Telephone: 757.648.4500
Fax: 757.437.6487
Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Mon. - Fri.
Plaza Middle School
Principal: Andrea Warren
E-mail: andreaf.warren@vbschools.com
3080 S. Lynnhaven Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Telephone: 757.648.4900
Fax: 757.431.5331
Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Mon. - Fri.
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