Join the conversation

Story posted February, 2008

Results:
• 91% of 5th graders passed the state reading test in 2006, up from 75% in 2003
• 94% of 3rd graders passed the state reading test in 2006, up from 76% in 2003
• School has made Adequate Yearly Progress 5 years in a row

As long as Fair Street Elementary School has been around, it has been the center of its community. When it was founded in 1937, the school was the only one to serve northeast Georgia's African American children before segregation. It was the heart of the community, holding community meetings, and social and athletic activities. While the Gainesville population has become more diverse over the years, Fair Street has held its place as the heart of its community.

Fair Street educates 601 students. Of these, 93% are eligible for free or reduced price lunch, 11% receive special needs services, 70% are English second-language learners, and 48% qualify for ESOL instruction.

The school's unique partnerships benefit both the school and larger community. Through the school's efforts, Southside Park, a first-class recreational facility, has been built for the community. The school houses historical archives to preserve artifacts and its role as a historical landmark of the African American community in Gainesville and Hall County.  Brenau University's College of Education also uses Fair Street classrooms as professional development sites.

Fair Street is open late into the evening hours and all day on weekends to provide after-school programs, parenting and adult literacy classes, and access to the gym, computer lab and library for students and families. Families use the schools as an extension of the school day programs and for weekend leisure and recreation. Through health screenings, mental health services, parent programs and resource materials, the school extends special assistance to both families and community residents. For students, Fair Street offers eye glasses, dental care, and mental health counseling as well.

Fair Street engages students in interdisciplinary, international and service learning. Each year, students select a global and local service project that is linked to the curriculum. For the last three years, Fair Street sent materials and school supplies to support a school in Zambia and coordinated a teacher exchange with the school. This year, Fair Street students are leading a recycling program with the Gainesville City Waste Management Service and the local government.  Each of these projects link to objectives across the school's math, literacy, science and social studies curricula.

According to the school's principal, Merrianne Dyer, this approach is working. "The achievement gap is closing for all of our students," said Dyer.

Fair Street is an International Baccalaureate World School that has also received the Title I Distinguished Schools Award for making AYP for 5 years in a row.  For 5^th graders the percentage passing for reading rose from 75% in 2003 to 91% in 2006 and for math it rose from 78% to 88% during the same time period.

The percentage of 3^rd graders passing state tests in reading rose from 76% in 2003 to 94% in 2006.

Fair Street has also won the National Association of Elementary School Principals' "Sharing the Dream Award" for its Latino Leadership Group.

Parent surveys indicate that parents strongly agree that they are incorporated in school decision-making and that Fair Street offers a high quality education.

Further details about this story can be found in our source:
www.communityschools.org

For additional information please contact:
William Campbell,
Assistant Principal, Fair Street Elementary
678-410-1441
william.campbell@gcssk12.net