The Guam Department of Education (GDOE), formerly the Guam Public School System, is a school district in Guam that serves roughly 4,000 employees and 30,000 school children. The district is headquartered at the GDOE Tiyan offices located at 501 Mariner Avenue Barrigada, Guam. The Guam Department of Education is a single unified school district consisting of grades kindergarten through 12th grade. The district serves 26 elementary schools, eight middle schools, six high schools and one alternative school.
Through the proper management of resources, continued improvement of programs and offerings, and dedication to excellence in education, the department has helped thousands of students graduate and enter the world of work or higher education. Providing a quality education and helping students complete their high school education is essential both to the future successes of these students, and to Guam community as a whole. Research shows that high school graduates are more likely to earn higher wages, be employed, pay higher taxes, and therefore contribute positively to the island economy. It is the department's mission to prepare all children for success in either the work force, or in higher education.
• ACCREDITED PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Ten years ago, only 4 GDOE schools were accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). As of this June, 37 out of 41 (or 90%) of DOE schools are now WASC accredited. In 2015, GDOE became the first district in the nation to receive district-level accreditation from WASC.
• RISING GRADUATION RATES & DECLINING DROPOUT RATES: In 2011, the GDOE graduation rate was 69%. In the past 7 years, it has steadily increased to 82% with 2,041 graduates in 2018. Similarly, the dropout rate has declined from 6.8% in 2011, to a new low of 2.4% in 2017. This is in part due to greater student support and intervention programs such as Eskuelan Puengi, summer school & JP Torres Success Academy.
• INCREASED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: Ten years ago, Guam saw low and non-increasing SAT10 results. The implementation of a Comprehensive Student Assessment System aligned with curriculum & resulted in major improvements as depicted in test cohort analysis, with elementary & middle schools exceeding national English benchmarks.
• STEM AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION IN SCHOOLS: GDOE spent over $24 million on technology purchases for students and teachers over the past 10 years, expanded internet/WiFi capability, and made available over 5,000 devices & 163 mobile laptop carts. GDOE also strengthened & expanded STEM programs, as well as parent and student access to information through PowerSchool.
• EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH SCHOOL BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: GDOE launched its School-Based Behavioral Health Initiative in 2017 to support students in need of mental health & therapeutic services. The program provides long-term services to at-risk students, as well as substance abuse therapy to secondary students disciplined for drug/alcohol offenses.
• STANDARDS AND INSTRUCTION GREATLY IMPROVED: In 2012, the Guam Education Board adopted Common Core State Standards in English and Math, joining a national movement to improve education. GDOE also revised the K-12 Content Standards and Performance Indicators, and met 8 of10 national standards through its Pre-K program.
• HEALTHY BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT NO COST: GDOE has been able to serve tasty and nutritional meals to all students at no cost, thanks to the USDA Community Eligibility Provision. GDOE piloted the program in 2014 and expanded it to apply to all students in School Year 2018-19.
• IMPROVED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY: GDOE went from being “unauditable” ten years ago to having 5 consecutive clean audits by Fiscal Year 2017, with no material weaknesses for the 3rd consecutive year. GDOE also implemented a new financial management system and improved tracking of fixed assets while increasing federal funding.
• NEW AND RESDEISGNED SCHOOLS THAT REDUCED OVERCROWDING: GDOE increased the number of school facilities, improving the campus environment and significantly reduced overcrowding over the past decade. Recently built/renovated schools include Liguan Elementary, Tiyan High, Okkodo High, Adacao Elementary, Astumbo Middle, Untalan Middle & JFK High School.
• EARLY PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER: GDOE students are able to prepare for college & career by participating in college fairs and participating in WorkKeys national certification. GDOE also implemented a student assessment system aligned to national college/career readiness standards, allowing monitoring of student achievement & culminating with a shift to standards-based grading.
