Implementing a Coordinated School Health Program: One Local School's Success

The Coordinated School Health Program was developed to address concerns about the impact of health problems on the attendance and performance of students and staff at McIntosh Middle School in Sarasota, FL. Coordinated school health programs provide a well-rounded approach to school health that includes health education, physical education, health services, nutrition services, health promotion for staff, counseling/psychological services, a healthy school environment, and parent and community involvement. Using CDC's School Health Index, the school's site-based team assessed the school's resources, developed an action plan, and integrated the CSHP into the school's operations and curriculum.

The goal of McIntosh Middle School's coordinated health program was to improve the attendance and performance of students by decreasing health problems

Implementing a CSHP in the Sarasota middle school generated access to additional resources for students and staff, improved school attendance, and increased the percentage of students who scored 3.0 or higher on a state-mandated writing assessment. A majority of students at the school are now Renaissance members, an honor that requires a grade point average of 3.0 or above and no discipline referrals. The school has been recognized by the Florida Department of Education as a Five-Star School, with a school grade of "A," and recognized the school as a "Sunshine State Success Story" for making wellness a cornerstone of its education.