The Innovation and Performance Area (IAPA) is a dedicated division within Prince George’s County Public Schools focused on accelerating improvement in schools identified for additional support under Maryland’s accountability system. The team works with schools, families, and community partners to strengthen instruction, leadership, and systems so more students experience academic success.
CSI stands for Comprehensive Support and Improvement. These are Title I schools identified by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) as among the lowest performing in the state or, in the case of high schools, those with low graduation rates.
A school may be designated CSI if it:
CSI designation signals the need for targeted, comprehensive support to improve student outcomes.
ATSI stands for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement. These schools are identified when one or more student groups consistently underperform, even if the school overall is not in the bottom statewide rankings.
ATSI designation allows schools to focus improvement efforts on specific student populations while receiving additional guidance and monitoring.
The Innovation and Performance Area supports elementary, middle, K–8, and high schools designated as CSI or ATSI across PGCPS. Schools are organized into clusters to ensure consistent leadership, targeted support, and close partnership with district teams.
A full list of schools is available in the Schools in the Innovation and Performance Area section above.
The primary goal is to ensure schools successfully exit CSI or ATSI designation by improving student achievement, strengthening systems, and building sustainable practices.
More broadly, the goal is to provide equitable access to high-quality education for every student, regardless of zip code or circumstance, and to drive rapid, measurable, and lasting gains in student performance.
Schools exit CSI or ATSI designation by meeting performance benchmarks established by MSDE. This includes demonstrated improvement in areas such as:
The Innovation and Performance Area supports schools in aligning improvement strategies to these benchmarks and sustaining progress over time.
“Identify and exit” refers to the state accountability process used to determine which schools need additional support — and when they are ready to exit CSI or ATSI designation.
Schools are identified by MSDE using statewide accountability measures. Identification may occur if a school:
To exit CSI or ATSI status, a school must demonstrate sustained improvement and meet MSDE exit criteria within a defined timeframe. This includes progress across multiple performance indicators, not just a single data point.
The goal is not only to exit designation, but to build systems that prevent schools from reentering CSI or ATSI status.
Support is centered on four focus areas:
This work balances accountability with hands-on support and collaboration.
The Innovation and Performance Area is led by Associate Superintendent Dr. LeTrecia Gloster, supported by Instructional Directors who oversee clusters of schools. Together, they partner directly with principals and school teams to guide improvement efforts and monitor progress.
Family and community partnerships are central to school improvement. The Innovation and Performance Area works alongside community schools, local organizations, and families to address barriers to learning, strengthen engagement, and support the whole child.
Focused, intentional support helps schools disrupt patterns of underachievement and close opportunity gaps. By investing in leadership, instruction, and accountability, PGCPS is working to ensure all students have access to strong schools and meaningful opportunities for success.
