Our History

CMS is uniquely a four-year-old facility with a nearly one hundred year history. Previously located at 809 C Avenue, the original building offers a history that developed in concert with the growth and values of Southwest Oklahoma and the city of Lawton. Recognition of Central’s contributions to the area garnered its placement in the National Register of Historic Places as of February 1997.

Despite the uniqueness of attending classes in an historic institution, general conditions due to the building’s age were a concern to patrons, building personnel and Board of Education members. In response to this concern, Lawton voters approved a 1999 bond issue to allow construction of a new site.

Attendance Area

CMS provides services for students who reside in Ft. Sill family housing or in the community areas bordered on the north by Rogers Lane, the east by Highway 281, the south by Bishop Road and the west by a meandering line extending from 11th Street and 15th Street to Sheridan Road.

Current Information

Transportation

Bus services are provided for 60% of the total enrollment. This number has a definite impact on the potentiality of developing extensive extracurricular programs. Coaches and club sponsors not only plan activities, practice sessions and game strategies, but also give consideration to arranging ways home for students who families often do not have access to personal transportation. City support is given through the offering of reduced student rates for youngsters who choose to rid the LATS buses.

Population

CMS is a diverse community with nearly 60% minority. The largest minority is African American followed in order by Hispanic, Native American and Asian. It is also on the lower end of the socio-economic scale. Approximately 70% of the students receive free and reduced lunches.

Slightly over 35% of CMS students are from military families. This factor leads to an annual turn over rate of 30-35%.

Approximately 18% of the enrollment meets the criteria for special needs programs, and they are provided services in a variety of venues.

Another 15% are identified as gifted and talented.

Instructional Characteristics

Our goal is the development and enhancement of knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to participate effectively in a technologically orientated society of free choice. In order to meet this goal, we offer over 427 sections of 97 courses.

Our daily schedule is arranged to enhance learning by aiding students in developing organizational skills and in completing homework. Seven instructional periods of approximately 47 minutes each, are followed by a 20 minute 8th hour study period, held Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Instructional support services are provided by five computer laboratories. One lab is designated for teaching computer skills four hours daily. A second lab is connected to the internet and is available before and after school as well as during all instructional periods. A third lab is utilized for word processing and educational software focusing on teaching specific objectives in math, social studies, writing, reading, and science. A fourth lab, I Can Learn (ICL), is utilized for self-paced math curriculum instruction. A mobile lab is available for research-based core curriculum instruction.

The Central Middle School library and Title I center features a computerized catalogue system that accesses information about and location of 15,000 fiction and nonfiction books. Monthly circulation averages 2100 books, with academic year circulation of 18,000. The library has 20 computers connected to the internet, with special filtering software to ensure that only appropriate web pages may be viewed, as well as numerous tactile, audio and video educational resources. A teacher and parent center is also available. Patrons may borrow from a large selection of teacher and parent support material.

The development of coping skills needed to deal with academic and personal problems is also a part of the student’s education. Grade level academic and guidance counselors, a Student Assistance Program and several mentoring and tutorial endeavors support this aspect of learning. Student attendance and retention rates are currently 94% and 1/63% respectively.