Mission Statement

The mission of Roxboro Middle School is to equip each of our students with the skills necessary to be successful. We join in partnership with our families and community to educate the whole child. We are committed to assisting students in their social, emotional, artistic, and intellectual development. We promote a safe, student-centered environment where all children can achieve. Our students will grow to become critical thinkers, prepared to succeed in a diverse global community.

History of the School

Roxboro Junior High opened in its current building in 1926 with 475 students and 23 faculty members. Additions to the current building were made in 1958 and again in 1976. In the 1960's the late Arthur Ashe appeared in the Davis Cup at Roxboro. In 1985 Roxboro Junior High became Roxboro Middle School; the 9th grade moved to Heights High, and 6th graders moved to Roxboro. The concept of “teaming” began at Roxboro in 1992, and in 1994 the school received the Ohio Middle School award for this concept. In 1999 Roxboro’s Power of the Pen team, coached by Mrs. Gibson and Ms. Lewis, won the state championship. In 2003 the school was one of only three in Ohio to receive a National PTA award for Excellence in Parent Involvement.

In 2007, Roxboro received recognition from the Ohio Board of Education for improvement on the state assessments by 10 or more points. The school also received recognition from Standard & Poor’s, a data analysis group, for making significant progress in narrowing the achievement gap between higher and lower performing student groups. Standard & Poor’s has identified 77 schools that have significantly narrowed achievement gaps out of 3,534 schools in Ohio.

Roxboro has implemented a formal Minority Student Achievement Network program. Roxboro’s vision for MSAN includes high achievement for all students, informative assemblies, involved parents, study tables, guest speakers, and the formation of support groups. For more information about this organization, you can visit their website at http://www.msanetwork.org/aboutus.asp.

Bell Schedule

The first bell is at 8:05 a.m. Students must be in their homerooms by 8:13 a.m. Students eat lunch in the cafeteria for 20 minutes; the other half of the period is spent in homeroom. The first lunch period is at 10:46 a.m. and the final lunch period begins at 12:42 p.m. The school day ends at 2:35 p.m. and teachers are available to help students from this time until 3:15 p.m.

Extracurricular Activities

Clubs are also a great way for students to meet and interact with students with similar interests. The clubs at Roxboro include: art, chess, drama, jazz, skiing, athletic department student staff, the Mug club (a book club), Power of the Pen, intramural sports, Student Council, two different dance teams, the newspaper or yearbook staff, and Future Teachers of America.

Unified Arts Offerings

Roxboro offers Unified Arts courses at all grade levels. Sixth graders begin with a class in organizational skills for their first six weeks at the middle school. They then continue with a rotation of Art, Sports/Physical Education, Technology Education, Physical Fitness/Nutrition, and Organizational and Decision-Making Skills.

Seventh graders take Health, Technology Education, and Art at a more advanced level. In 8th grade students again take Health and Art, but no other offerings as they will be taking instrumental or vocal music every day.

After School

Students may stay an additional half an hour after school for “special help.” They are expected to leave the school grounds after the last bell if they are not working with a teacher.

The CHAMPS program is an after school program for 6th graders. CHAMPS stands for Character, Honor, Achievement, Motivation, and Partnership = Success. The program provides students with a healthy snack, academic assistance from a certified teacher and educational aide, social skills enrichment, and recreation time. Students spend time completing homework, strengthening academic skills, and improving social and life skills through the arts, sports, and games. Issues of communication, coping with anger, assertiveness, and conflict resolution are explored.

If you are looking for a program for your child after school hours, look no further than Open Doors (216-320-9563), which is located right down the street from Roxboro at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and at Fairmount Presbyterian Church.

The mission of Open Doors, Inc., is to support and enhance academic, social, and emotional growth in middle school-age children. They accomplish this mission by providing meaningful after school activities in a safe place. Open Doors is designed to better support the academic development of students who are struggling in school, enhance math and literacy skills, strengthen readiness for achievement testing, and provide them with an enjoyment of learning. Because it truly does take a village, Open Doors also builds supportive relationships with the family, the school, and the community.

Getting Involved

• The administration, staff, and families at Roxboro Middle School encourage you to stay involved in your child’s education. The principal hosts occasional “Pastries for Parents” and “Coffees with the Principal,” which give parents and guardians the opportunity to find out what is happening at the school and to ask the principal any questions they may have in a very relaxed, small group setting.
  
  
• There are a number of organizations families can join, including the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Roxboro has an active and involved PTA with over 300 members and 25 committees.
  
  
• The Roxboro Enrichment Arts Program (R.E.A.P.) is an ongoing partnership of families, teachers, and community friends who sponsor educational programs in the performing and visual arts at Roxboro Elementary and Middle Schools. REAP is dedicated to providing children with arts experiences which go beyond the “basics” of education. Last year, REAP provided $16,000 for events, artist residencies, and art activities.
  
  
• Roxboro Orchestra Band Organization (ROBO) is a parent organization formed to support and enhance the Roxboro instrumental music program. ROBO's goals include funding coaches for ensembles, financing more community performances, and providing scholarship assistance.

Families may call the Roxboro office at 216-371-7440 for more information on these organizations.

Take a Customized Tour of Roxboro

PATH (Parent Ambassadors to Heights) is a volunteer, parent-led initiative that fosters community understanding of the Cleveland Heights – University Heights City School District.

For more information, or to arrange a personal tour, please contact parent ambassador Lisa Berusch at 216-534-2690 or lberusch@sbcglobal.net.