1. 2016-2017 Community Survey Report
Allen Independent School District
January 23 – February 10, 2017

2. Purpose of the Study
Allen Independent School District asked parents, staff members, and community members to share their perceptions of district communication, student experiences, district operations, and school safety, as well as the quality of an Allen ISD education. Survey questions focused on the entire district rather than a specific school. Allen ISD will use the feedback to improve education for all students.
Topics included:
Communications
Academics
School operations and safety
District challenges
Community mission
Measuring educational excellence
Preparing students for the future

3. Details of the Study
The survey was open from Jan. 23 to Feb. 10. K12 Insight ed invitations with unique survey links to parents and employees. A public link was also posted on the district’s website. Participants were informed about the survey via letters to staff and parents, district newsletters, a website news item, social media, and flyers. The survey was available in English and Spanish. Reminders were sent to those who had not yet completed the survey on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 and 10. Results do not reflect random sampling; therefore, they should not be generalized to all Allen ISD community members. Rather, results reflect only the perceptions and opinions of survey participants. The findings for each item exclude participants who did not answer. In some charts and graphs, data labels less than 5 percent are not shown.

4. Participation Respondent Group Number of Invitations Delivered (NMax)
Unique Access Link Responses
Response Rate for Unique Access Link
Public Access Link Responses
Total Responses
23,179
3,995
17%
1,350
5,345
N/A
1,800
22,758
5,274
23%
175
5,449
21,601
4,618
21%
143
4,761

5. Demographic Information
How long have you lived within Allen ISD's boundaries? (N=5,341)

6. Demographic Information: Comparison Over Time
How long have you lived within Allen ISD's boundaries?
Response
(N=5,341)
(N=5,449)
(N=4,761)
Less than 1 year 5% 7%
1-5 years
20%
22%
6-10 years
26%
27%
11-15 years
19%
23%
More than 15 years
24%
21%
I do not live within Allen ISD's boundaries.
12% 0% –

7. Affiliation with Allen ISD
To help us better understand your perspective, please select all that apply. (N=5,334)
Note: The sum of the percentages may exceed 100 because participants could select more than one response.

8. District Role
Which of the following best describes your role in the district? (N=1,775)
Response
Count (N)
Percentage (%)
Teacher
1,081
61%
School Administrator (e.g., principal, assistant principal) 53 3%
District Administrator 45
School Office Staff Member 86 5%
District Office Staff Member 68 4%
Other School Staff Member (e.g., facilities, counseling, etc.)
456
26%
Notes:
The sum of the percentages may exceed 100 because participants could select more than one response.
Only Allen ISD employees answered this question.

9. Communication

10. Information Sources
From which of the following sources do you currently get information about the school district? Please select all that apply. (N=5,338)
Response
Count (N)
Percentage (%)
Allen ISD website (
4,282
80%
Campus
3,785
71%
District
2,915
55%
Peachjar e-flyers
2,939
Campus website
2,810
53%
School Messenger e-notification system
2,562
48%
Campus newsletters
2,176
41%
District social media (Facebook)
1,622
30%
FastTrack district e-newsletter
1,191
22%
Newspaper (e.g., Allen American, Dallas Morning News)
652
12%
Allen ISD mobile app
453 8%
TV station(s)
412
Board of Trustee meetings
217 4%
Radio station(s)
146 3%
Note: The sum of the percentages may exceed 100 because participants could select more than one response.

11. Information Sources: Top 5 Over Time
Allen ISD website (
Campus
District
Campus website
School Messenger e-notification system
Peachjar e-flyers
Question type changed from Yes or No to multiselect. We were unable to trend.
Note: The sum of the percentages may exceed 100 because participants could select more than one response option.

12. Preferred Communication Method
How would you prefer to receive information about the school district?
Response
Count (N)
Percentage (%)
Campus
3,497
66%
Allen ISD website (
3,165
60%
District
3,025
57%
School Messenger e-notification system
2,045
39%
Campus website
1,979
37%
Peachjar e-flyers
1,700
32%
Campus newsletters
1,414
27%
District social media (Facebook)
1,287
24%
FastTrack district e-newsletter
959
18%
Allen ISD mobile app
850
16%
Newspaper (e.g., Allen American, Dallas Morning News)
316 6%
TV station(s)
299
Board of Trustee meetings
134 3%
Radio station(s)
148
Note: The sum of the percentages may exceed 100 because participants could select more than one response.

13. Preferred Communication Method: Comparison Over Time
How would you prefer to receive information about the school district?
Response
(N=5,286)
(N=5,254)
(N=3,854)
Campus
66%
80%
96%
Allen ISD website (
60%
71%
91%
District
57%
74%
93%
School Messenger e-notification system
39%
35%
12%
Campus website
37%
50%
85%
Peachjar e-flyers
32% –
Campus newsletters
27%
22%
73%
District social media (Facebook)
24%
29%
53%
FastTrack district e-newsletter
18%
20%
69%
Allen ISD mobile app
16%
Newspaper (e.g., Allen American, Dallas Morning News) 6% 9%
34%
TV station(s)
44%
Board of Trustee meetings 3%
Radio station(s)
Note: The sum of percentages may exceed 100% because participants could select more than one response option.

14. Emergency Communication
In the event of an emergency (e.g., severe weather, school safety concern), how would you like Allen ISD to communicate with you? Select up to two options. (N=5,338)
Response
Count (N)
Percentage (%)
Automated text message
4,415
83%
Automated phone message/call
2,833
53%
from the school
992
19%
from the district
882
17%
TV station(s)
456 9%
District social media (Facebook)
340 6%
Radio station(s) 27 1%
Other 45
None of the above 7 0%
Note: The sum of the percentages may exceed 100 because participants could select more than one response.

15. Events and Activities
The school district works to keep the community informed about events and activities. Please rate your awareness of the following district activities and programs.

16. Events and Activities: Comparison Over Time
The school district works to keep the community informed about events and activities. Please rate your awareness of the following district activities and programs.
Answer Options: Not Aware, Somewhat Aware, Usually Aware, Very Much Aware
Note: Trending for is unavailable because that year used a 5-point familiarity scale.

17. Academics

18. State Ratings
What level of importance do you place on the state ratings for public schools? (N=5,331)

19. State Ratings: Comparison Over Time
What level of importance do you place on the state ratings for public schools?
Note: Trending for is unavailable because that year used a 5-point importance scale.

20. Academic and Extracurricular Programs
Allen ISD also offers numerous academic and extracurricular programs for students. Please indicate the importance you think Allen ISD should place on each of the following programs. 

21. Academic and Extracurricular Programs: Comparison Over Time
Allen ISD also offers numerous academic and extracurricular programs for students. Please indicate the importance you think Allen ISD should place on each of the following programs. 
Answer Options: No Importance, Low Importance, Moderate Importance, High Importance
Note: Trending for is unavailable because that year used a 5-point familiarity scale.

22. Student Preparation
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. The district prepares students …  
Note: In the survey, participants had the option to select “Don’t Know or No Opinion”
Note: Trending for and is unavailable (item not asked)

23. Student Support
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. The district …
Note: In the survey, participants had the option to select “Don’t Know or No Opinion”
Note: Trending for and is unavailable (item not asked)

24. Student Support (Continued)
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. The district …

25. School Operations and Safety

26. School Operations and Safety
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. The district's schools ...
Note: In the survey, participants had the option to select “Don’t Know or No Opinion”
Note: Trending for and is unavailable due to a scale change (was an importance scale)

27. School Operations and Safety (Continued)
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. The district's schools ...

28. Campus Security
Allen ISD has made several changes to facilities and procedures in recent years to increase student safety and campus security. How would you rate the security on Allen ISD school campuses? (N=5,324)

29. Campus Security: Comparison Over Time
Allen ISD has made several changes to facilities and procedures in recent years to increase student safety and campus security. How would you rate the security on Allen ISD school campuses?
Note: “I don’t know” was not an option in the and surveys.

30. District Priorities

31. District Priorities
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. The school district …
Note: In the survey, participants had the option to select “Don’t Know or No Opinion”
Note: Trending for and is unavailable due to a scale change (was an importance scale)

32. District Priorities (Continued)
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. The school district …

33. School Environment — Employees
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements.
Note: Only Allen ISD employees answered these questions.

34. School Environment — Employees: Comparison Over Time
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements.  
Note: Trending for and is unavailable (item not asked)
Answer Options: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Disagree nor Agree, Agree, Strongly Agree
Notes: Only Allen ISD employees answered these questions. In the survey, participants had a “No Opinion or N/A” answer option.

35. Staff Behavior — Employees
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. Staff members at my school …
Note: Only Allen ISD employees answered these questions

36. Staff Behavior — Employees: Comparison Over Time
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. Staff members at my school …  
Note: Trending for and is unavailable (item not asked)
Answer Options: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Disagree nor Agree, Agree, Strongly Agree
Notes: Only Allen ISD employees answered these questions. In the survey, participants had a “Don’t Know/No Opinion” answer option.

37. Student Behavior — Employees
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. Students at my school …
Note: Only Allen ISD employees answered these questions.

38. Student Behavior — Employees: Comparison Over Time
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. Students at my school …  
Note: Trending for and is unavailable (item not asked)
Answer Options: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Disagree nor Agree, Agree, Strongly Agree
Notes: Only Allen ISD employees answered these questions. In the survey, participants had a “Don’t Know/No Opinion” answer option.

39. Staff Behavior — Parents
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. Staff members at my child's school …
Note: Only parents of Allen ISD students answered these questions.

40. Staff Behavior — Parents: Comparison Over Time
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. Staff members at my child's school …  
Note: Trending for and is unavailable (item not asked)
Answer Options: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Disagree nor Agree, Agree, Strongly Agree
Notes: Only parents of Allen ISD students answered these questions. In the survey, participants had a “Don’t Know/No Opinion” answer option.

41. Student Behavior — Parents
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. Students at my child's school …
Note: Only parents of Allen ISD students answered these questions.

42. Student Behavior — Parents: Comparison Over Time
Please indicate your agreement with the following statements. Students at my child's school …  
Note: Trending for and is unavailable (item not asked)
Answer Options: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Disagree nor Agree, Agree, Strongly Agree
Notes: Only parents of Allen ISD students answered these questions. In the survey, participants had a “Don’t Know/No Opinion” answer option

43. Measuring Educational Excellence

44. Recommending Allen ISD
Would you recommend Allen ISD to a friend or family member with school-age children looking to move? (N=5,312)
Notes: “I don’t know” was not an answer option in the survey. Responses for that answer option was not included in the report..

45. Overall Satisfaction
Please indicate your overall satisfaction with the following aspects of Allen ISD.  
Note: Trending for is unavailable due to a scale change (was a 5 point satisfaction scale + Don’t Know or No Opinion)

46. Overall Satisfaction (Continued)
Please indicate your overall satisfaction with the following aspects of Allen ISD.  
Note: Trending for is unavailable due to a scale change (was a 5 point satisfaction scale + Don’t Know or No Opinion)

47. Strongest Qualities and Characteristics
What do you feel are Allen ISD's strongest qualities or characteristics? Please select all that apply.
(N=4,603)
(N=4,802)
(N=4,192)
Quality of teachers
65%
71%
52%
Community support for the school district
59%
72%
13%
Variety of academic programs
58%
45%
Academic rigor
55%
68%
34%
Condition of school facilities
51%
11%
Technology resources available to students
48%
19%
Success of extracurricular programs
42% 6%
Parent/Guardian involvement
40%
49%
Student performance on standardized tests
30%
12%
Other 2% 4% 3%
Note:
Notes:
Only participants who would recommend Allen ISD to a friend saw this question.
The sum of the percentages may exceed 100 because participants could select more than one response.
Trending for is unavailable (item not asked).

48. Opportunities for Improvement
What area(s) do you feel Allen ISD most needs to improve? Please select all that apply.
(N=194)
(N=199)
(N=263)
Quality of teachers
48%
51%
44%
Academic rigor
41%
38%
40%
Other
55%
56%
Variety of academic programs
31%
22%
16%
Parent/Guardian involvement
25%
19% 0%
Technology resources available to students
24%
14% 8%
Success of extracurricular programs
23%
10%
Condition of school facilities
21%
12% 9%
Student performance on standardized tests
18% 6%
Community support for the school district 5%
Notes:
Only participants who would not recommend Allen ISD to a friend saw this question.
The sum of the percentages may exceed 100 because participants could select more than one response.
Trending for is unavailable (item not asked).

49. What We Heard
Please share any additional comments you have about Allen ISD.
Positive comments included overall pride in the district, educational quality, and student support.
Some participants expressed the need for an additional high school because of concerns about high student enrollment.

50. Executive Summary Pt. 1
The number of participants this year (5,345) almost tripled last year’s responses (1,800). This year, most participants identified as a parent or guardian of an Allen ISD student whereas last year the majority of participants were Allen ISD employees.
The top five information sources that participants use are Allen ISD’s website (80%), campus (71%), district (55%), Peachjar e-flyers (55%), and campus website (53%). These aligned closely with the most preferred methods.
84% of participants said they place high or moderate importance on state ratings for public schools. Trending data shows that the percentage of participants that selected high importance is the lowest it has ever been.
The majority of participants strongly agreed or agreed that the district prepares and supports students in all survey areas.

51. Executive Summary Pt. 2
Employees and parents had mostly positive agreement to questions about faculty and student behavior.
88% of participants would recommend Allen ISD to a friend or family member with school-age children looking to move.
Participants who would recommend Allen ISD to a friend cited teacher quality as one of the district's strongest qualities. However, participants who would not recommend Allen ISD to a friend cited this same area as the most needed improvement.
Overall, the majority of participants were very satisfied or satisfied with all aspects of Allen ISD included in the survey, with the highest satisfaction in school safety (89%), followed by school environment (86%) and academic programs (85%).