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Elementary
Success Stories
In Michigan, Linking Body Language and Learning
Story posted March, 2008
Results:
• Positive correlation between amount of Body Phonics taught and student achievement
• Significant gains in individual special education students' reading scores, occasionally resulting in student reclassification to regular education
With nearly half of the students in Romulus, Michigan's K-6 school district from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, educators have long sought new ways to impart fundamental skills. But an enterprising special education teacher and an innovative partnership with a community organization have brought young learners to their feet and offered one-on-one tutoring for those who need the most help. ...
Arlington's Community Involvement Helps Students Succeed
Story posted March, 2008
Results:
• 95% of parents attending ESL classes related to the school attend parent-teacher conferences
• 400% growth in the number of children attending after-school enrichment programs, with 80% of those students showing academic gains
Imagine a school where teachers and parents work together to help children learn and develop; a place where local arts groups, businesses, faith-based organizations and county services all come together to improve the lives of young people and their families. At Carlin Springs Elementary School, in Arlington, VA, students are thriving because the school, county and the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families have come together to create a place that does all of this and more. ...
Road Trip to Success: Engaging Families and Children in Coopersville
Story posted March, 2008
Results:
• Higher test scores for at-risk children
• Increased parent involvement in school activities
• Greater family participation in out-of-school educational activities
The more life experiences children have, the greater their success in school. Studies show that children from less affluent households often come to school with underdeveloped language skills. A typical child in a low-income household hears 600 words an hour, while atypical middle class child hears 2,000. Plus, children in low-income families often have fewer life experiences like trips to children's museums, visits to the library and outings with their family. An innovative family involvement program in Michigan aims to change this equation. ...
A Focus on Literacy Spells Success for Georgia Matthews Elementary
Story posted February, 2008
Results:
• 91.1% of 3rd graders met or exceeded the state reading standard in 2007, up from 79.1% in 2006
• 95% of 3rd grade English Language Learners met or exceeded the state reading standard in 2007, up from 80% in 2006
At Georgia Matthews Elementary School in Garden City, Kansas, developing literacy in the largely Hispanic student body is everybody's job. Students learn vocabulary and practice literacy skills not just during class periods dedicated to reading and writing, but all day long. Even physical education and art teachers bring books to their classes or use objects to introduce new vocabulary or concepts in English. Add a relentless focus on the individual needs of each student, and you've got a formula that has helped students beat the odds.
The majority of children at Georgia Matthews qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and half are learning English as a second language. Yet the school, which has students in early childhood through 4th grade, regularly outperforms the state's learning standards. Last year, the National Association of Title I State Directors recognized the school's progress in closing achievement gaps with a Distinguished School Program award. ...
Community Engagement at the Center of Fair Street's Success
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. ...
Character Education Promotes Academic Achievement at Herrington Elementary
Story posted February, 2008
Results:
• 40% drop in suspension rate
• Attained 95% average daily attendance
• Attained highest reading scores in the city
Herrington Elementary is located just four blocks from the Pontiac Silverdome, longtime home of the Detroit Lions. It's fitting, then, that teamwork is the hallmark of the school's efforts to create a great, safe place where all children can learn.
What brought this small elementary school with 360 students to the big leagues of innovation in public education? The answer is Herrington's emphasis on character education for all students. With the support of the United Auto Workers and GM, Herrington has built a curriculum and a culture that puts an emphasis on common values.
An example of the school's unique approach is the "Harambee," an African term for gathering. Every morning, all students and adults in the school meet in the Herrington multipurpose room for the Pledge of Allegiance, character trait quotes, special announcements and a recitation of "I Am Somebody." Student birthdays are recognized with three claps and a "Whoop!" ...
Creating a Learning Environment--Moving from Chaos to Achievement
Story posted February, 2008. Results updated August 4, 2011.
Results:
• In 2010 60% of students met or exceeded state math standards, and 70% did so for reading--about the state average despite serving a significantly higher proportion of students in poverty.
How could Dayton's Bluff Achievement Plus Elementary School, a school so troubled that children rode their bikes in the hallways, become a beacon of achievement and learning? The transformation took leadership, vision and a willingness to turn a chaotic place into a nurturing learning environment.
A K-6 urban school that draws almost 90% of its students from low-income families, Dayton's Bluff was by all accounts out of control. Overall discipline was inconsistent and the learning environment was in shambles. Nine out of 10 students could not read at grade level. Teacher morale was low and turnover high. It was labeled the worst school in the city. ...
Consistency is Key to Improvement in Orlando
Story posted January, 2008
Story updated January, 2011
Results:
• Test scores have consistently improved in most categories from 2007-2010
• Nationally recognized in 2003 for success in closing achievement gaps
Located in an impoverished, highly transient part of Orlando, Florida, Rolling Hills Elementary School often gains or loses as many as 40 of its 750 students every week. But the school's principal, who had once repeated kindergarten at his parents' request, helped create a more stable and successful learning environment for his school's students, in part, by providing many students with the opportunity to get on grade level by offering consistent and relevant interventions and allowing a few students to be retained. ...
"A Place for Everyone": Frankford Elementary
Story posted January, 2008. Results updated August 3, 2009.
Results:
• On average, 90% of students in grades 2-5 met or exceeded State Standards in reading and math on Delaware’s annual assessment (DSTP) in 2009
• 2009 performance highlights include 97% of 3rd graders and 94% of 4th graders passing the DSTP math test 
(compared to 79% and 77%, respectively, for the state as a whole)
The Frankford Elementary School motto is "A Place for Everyone." And, over the years, the school has proven that everyone can succeed if provided with individualized attention to meet specific learning needs.
Frankford Elementary sits in a small, rural community just ten miles from Bethany Beach, a summer vacation resort. Despite the school's proximity to expensive beach homes, most of the school's students come from low-income households. Seventy-eight percent of Frankford students qualify for free or reduced lunches. The student body is 43% Hispanic, 29% White and 26% African American. ...
Greenway Elementary: Empowering Educators to Close the Achievement Gap
Story posted January, 2008
Results:
• State test scores increased 23% in math and 14% in reading over the past two years
• Recognized by the state for narrowing achievement gaps
Greenway Elementary School in Bisbee, AZ was plagued for many years by mediocre test scores and a persistent achievement gap between its White and Hispanic students. Compounding the problem was teachers' isolation from one another, and the inconsistent quality of instruction from classroom to classroom. So, when John Taylor, the school's principal, decided it was time to turn things around, he set out first to empower his teachers to make a change.
Greenway and its students face many challenges. Its proximity to the Mexican border ensures a large population of English language learners, and nearly 70% of all students qualify for free or reduced priced meals. ...
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A VISION FOR GREAT SCHOOLS
On this website, educators, parents and policymakers from coast to coast are sharing what's already working in public schools--and sparking a national conversation about how to make it work for children in every school. Join the conversation!
