Support. Preparation. Academics. Citizenship. Stress.

All of these aspects were included and rated in a survey sent out to students, parents, and teachers of West Chicago Community High School. Following the announcement of the board-approved 5-year strategic plan, members of the WEGO community attended a data retreat meeting on Nov. 4 to review the survey results and examine the strengths and weaknesses of the school.

The data retreat consisted of various analysis teams where students, staff, and parents worked together to understand the pros and cons of WEGO. Recognizing trends in the results, celebrating what the school has been doing well, and focusing on what needs to be fixed were all key components of the meeting.

“Data is a great opener for our conversations because it allows everyone to show their priorities and make the best case of how to proceed with our next steps,” staff representative Brian Turnbaugh said.

Student survey results concluded that most teens feel as though they are prepared for different college and career paths and provided with the necessary equipment and environment to have a beneficial learning experience, as well as having the ability to work in groups and be good citizens. However, 59% of students reported feeling stressed or having trouble with peers.

Additionally, students were given the opportunity to write about what they thought WEGO was doing well, and what would make the school better. The most popular responses included that teenagers appreciated the wide variety of advanced and AP courses West Chicago Community High School offers, also crediting that the support from teachers and other students ultimately allows them to pursue their desired careers and personal growth.

Students expressed concerns about lunch prices and options, lack of student engagement and school spirit, and whether or not Den periods are beneficial.

“Knowing things are going to be better for future students makes me happy to think about, especially the younger siblings of my friends [and] knowing that I helped their high school experience,” student rep junior Julia Koput said.

As for staff, survey results showed that most faculty agreed the resources provided for students are of high quality, as well as an average or above average gratitude towards coworkers, custodians, administrators, and other employees. 27% of staff disagreed that they feel satisfied with the professional growth opportunities presented to them, while 37% disagreed that District 94 listens and responds to staff opinions effectively. 

Staff also highlighted their pride in the WEGO community for its diversity, morale, and improvement-based goals. It was frequently suggested that rules and policies for student attendance and behavior may need to be revisited, along with better communication, collaboration, and support from the school and community. 

Similar to both students and staff, parents agreed that their children are provided with the necessary tools to support their learning. The majority of parents also believe the school’s efforts to inform them about their students are satisfactory, and the quality of the school facilities and academics is above average.

Open-ended responses concluded that parents appreciate the caring and positive environment of WEGO, routines safety measures and security, and inclusivity such as hospitality for immigrant families. Parents suggested improving the academic rigor and college preparation for their kids, as well as putting more emphasis on mental health resources and counseling.

“I think reviewing this data as a whole provides a lot of facts that will help us move in the right direction. The other thing we have to understand as a Strategic Planning committee is that the survey data is subjective. One person might say we need improvements in one area, and five others might consider that same topic as a strength. We worked hard in our small groups and collectively tired to navigate through all of that,” building leader Brittney Walker said.

With numerous responses and suggestions, attendees of the data retreat split into breakout groups to focus on all determinants of WEGO’s future and prepared for the next meeting of #WEGO2030.

“I loved seeing how interactive the whole data retreat was- from breaking off to smaller groups and comparing different surveys through meaningful conversations with parents, teachers, admin, and students to then moving onto presentation where different administration staff walked through detailed findings. I truly felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself,” Renteria said.