CAPE ELIZABETH – The Cape Elizabeth School Department has released the results of a school climate survey taken by students, parents and school staff last fall.

The survey found strengths to include parent involvement and openness, according to Superintendent Meredith Nadeau, but students also indicated they would like to see more choices in terms of academics, parents said there should be more challenging programs and staff wants useful feedback and increased involvement in decision making.

The school climate survey was designed to gauge engagement and satisfaction among students and parents, as well as perceptions regarding the school climate and culture in Cape Elizabeth’s three schools.

More than 1,600 people responded to the survey, which was targeted toward students in grades 5-12, parents and staff. The results were compiled by the National Center for School Leadership and yielded 1,200 pages of data, which the School Board discussed at a workshop last week.

“We needed to establish some baseline data,” Nadeau said at the board’s meeting April 8, where she presented a summary of the survey results. She said the school department now plans to administer the survey annually.

Nadeau added that the survey results would also be used by the school district to help implement its long-term strategic plan.

– Kate Irish Collins