Reviewing test scores, individually focusing on students and teamwork are some reasons three  Lauderdale County schools garnered high marks on  recent state accountability rankings. 

Clarkdale, Southeast and Northeast Elementary Schools were rated as “A” schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Overall, the district was rated as a “B”.

After looking at the school’s scores at the beginning of the year, Angela McHenry, principal at Clarkdale Elementary, said the staff kind of knew they were an “A” school, but couldn’t talk about it.

McHenry said last year Clarkdale was a B, but in previous years, the school was an A.

“We are hoping to keep it,” McHenry said.

McHenry said scores increased in English and language arts, with a 15.1 point increase in proficiency, a 23.1 point rise in growth and 22.2 point increase in the lowest quartile.

“Kids have risen to the challenge, for sure,” said McHenry.

In math, the school saw a 9.6 point increase in proficiency and 11.9 point rise in growth. McHenry said since the school has already been scoring high in math, it was harder for them to pull up those scores. 

McHenry said even thought math is the school’s strongest subject, it has become more difficult to learn, because lessons include not only computational math, but applications as well.  

To help teachers, the school has been providing more training in English and language arts. McHenry said teachers are using rubrics from the trainings to help students understand writing.

Another tool the school is using is I-Ready, an online learning program that lets students practice sample problems before taking the assessments. Teachers also set aside  time for students who need extra help, so if a student has a serious problem, teachers can work with them individually.

At the beginning of the school year, McHenry sat down with every fourth grader student and explained their scores, which included what level they are at and what they need to work on. To prepare for the tests, McHenry and teachers take data from last year’s assessments and  include it in the curriculum. 

McHenry credited the teachers, students and involved parents for the high scores.

“It creates a great sense of pride in the community,” said McHenry.

The first time

At Southeast Lauderdale Elementary, students and teachers worked for three years to move from a “B” to “A” rating, according to Principal Ryan Powell. 

“It was a relief that we finally made it,” said Powell.

During the last three years, the school has created Professional Learning Communities, where teachers look closely at student data. Powell said with fourth grade students, they focused on growth, while with the third grade students, the focus was getting students on a level three reading level.

Students were also broken into small groups focusing on their individual needs, based on skills they were struggling with, according to Assistant Principal Steven Holifield.

To connect with parents, school staff use social media and the school has hosted several parent nights for third grade students, because parents were concerned about the third grade gate, a test third graders have to pass before going to the fourth grade.

Powell said news of the high rating has been humbling, because everyone has worked hard and it has been several years in the making. 

“It really takes everybody,” Holifield added. 

Second time around

Northeast Elementary School is no stranger to being an “A” school. This is the second year the school has been at the top.

“We try to take students where they are to move forward,”  said Lisa Shelly, the school’s principal. 

Teachers set aside an hour of the day called What I Need for each grade level for enrichment and intervention, which helps students focus on specific skills, Shelly said.

Another focus is encouraging students to take ownership of their work. Shelly described this as students keeping track of their progress on a data chart and discussing their work with their teacher. Students also use the I-Ready program to keep track of their goals. 

Assistant Principal Angie Nelson said students are also recognized during daily announcements, and teachers call parents to reinforce good grades. 

Nelson said having an “A” rating does not happen overnight, but takes time.

“You’ve got to celebrate those small steps as well as those big steps,” she said.