Principal's View: Recruitment

James C. Wright Middle School is a public school of choice. Parents make application to Wright as the middle school they wish their child to attend. Unlike non-charter middle schools in Madison, Wright must actively recruit students to attend. As principal, a key task is to develop and disseminate information about the school to community members and potential families.

Many students choose to attend Wright because of its proximity to where they live. Nonetheless, Wright staff and students visit several of the West Area elementary schools to inform and hopefully recruit incoming sixth graders. Several components make up this recruitment process.

School Visits | Sixth grade Open House | Brochure | School Application

School Visits. First, visits are made to each of the following elementary schools: Lincoln, Frank Allis, Randall, and Leopold. Students are given a folder of materials that include: a school brochure, application, and (Madison Middle School 2000 used a different application form and a different brochure.) A video representing various features of the school is also shown to prospective students.

Sixth Grade Open House. In early February, students are invited to visit Wright for an incoming sixth grade open house. They are given a tour of the school, visit with sixth grade teachers and students, and eat ice cream while visiting with the social services staff.

School Brochure. This is the brochure initially developed for Madison Middle School 2000. This is the brochure used today for James C. Wright Middle School.

School Application. The application form used for the 2001-02 school year at Wright can be downloaded here.(Adobe Acrobat Reader required) If you are interested in how the process for Madison Middle School 2000 differed, click here.

Recruitment efforts have produced increasingly positive results. While struggling to attract students in the late 1990's, Wright is at capacity as it enters into the 2001-02 school year. Still the process for applying and enrolling students at the middle school can be confusing for some. Some parents may confuse the application process with the enrollment process...remembering to do one but neglecting to do the other. In that case a letter is sent to the parent. Once the class has been filled, remaining students are placed on a waiting list and are contacted as spaces become available.

Contact is also made with parents of current students who must return a form indicating their intent to continue their child's enrollment at Wright for the upcoming school year. Unless the letter is returned, a spot is not guaranteed for the student.