Elementary Schools

Norman Smith Elementary, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Beth Unfried
• Grades Served: PK-5
• Enrollment: 614
• Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 76%

Overview:

Norman Smith Elementary serves over 600 students in grades PK-5 in Middle Tennessee. Seventy-six percent of their students are economically disadvantaged. The school posted strong three-year marks on TVAAS growth: 7.4 in math, 6.2 in reading, and 3.9 in science. Norman Smith has narrowed the TCAP achievement gap between its low-income and higher-income students in math by 22 points between 2011 and 2013 and by 16 points in reading during the same period. Norman Smith has undergone a dramatic, positive turnaround over the last several years – resulting in huge gains for students. Large contributing factors to the turnaround include strong school leadership and dedicated teachers who have worked hard toward school-wide literacy efforts.

Three-Year TVAAS Growth Estimate (2011-2013):

• Math: 7.4
• Reading: 6.2
• Science: 3.9

Three-Year TCAP Proficient/Advanced Rates (2011-2013):

• Math: 62%
• Reading: 57%
• Science: 73%

McPheeter’s Bend Elementary, Hawkins County Schools

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Renee Bernard
• Grades Served: PK-4
• Enrollment: 108
• Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 78%

Overview:

McPheeter’s Bend Elementary serves approximately 100 students in grades PK-4 in East Tennessee. Seventy-eight percent of McPheeter’s Bend students are economically disadvantaged. The school posted high three-year marks on TVAAS growth: 11.5 in math, 13.6 in reading, and 6.4 in science. McPheeter’s Bend embraces high standards, communicating regularly to students the expectation that they will achieve at high levels. The school has a daily 30-minute intervention period in reading for struggling students. The school uses weekly assessments to determine which students are at highest risk of falling behind and tailors supports accordingly. The strong TVAAS growth in reading, math, and science show that the school is making great gains with its rural, low-income population. In addition, McPheeter’s Bend students outpace statewide averages on TCAP.

Three-Year TVAAS Growth Estimate (2011-2013):

• Math: 11.5
• Reading: 13.6
• Science: 6.4

Three-Year TCAP Proficient/Advanced Rates (2011-2013):

• Math: 52%
• Reading: 50%
• Science: 61%

Mt. Carmel Elementary, Hawkins County Schools

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Bobby Wines
• Grades Served: PK-4
• Enrollment: 303
• Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 52%

Overview:

Mt. Carmel Elementary serves approximately 300 students in grades PK-4 in East Tennessee. Fifty-two percent of their students are economically disadvantaged. The school posted strong three-year marks on TVAAS growth: 13.3 in math, 9.5 in reading, and 6.9 in science. Mt. Carmel has narrowed the TCAP achievement gap between its low-income and higher-income students in science by 13.3 points from 2011 to 2013. Mt. Carmel has many key factors of schools that dramatically improve student achievement including excellent community engagement, use of benchmark assessments, technology in classrooms, teacher mentoring, effective interventions for struggling students, and a strong culture of data-driven instruction. Mt. Carmel also has an incredibly positive student and teacher culture.

Three-Year TVAAS Growth Estimate (2011-2013):

• Math: 13.3
• Reading: 9.5
• Science: 6.9

Three-Year TCAP Proficient/Advanced Rates (2011-2013):

• Math: 68%
• Reading: 63%
• Science: 73%

John Sevier Elementary, Maryville City Schools

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Rick Wilson
• Grades Served: PK-3
• Enrollment: 548
• Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 55%

Overview:

Located in the suburbs of Knoxville in the Maryville City School District, John Sevier Elementary School is an example of a school that has stepped up to meet and exceed the increasingly rigorous demands that now characterize education. In the 2011-2012 school year, changes at the district level prompted significant changes at the school. The school’s fourth grade moved to a newly configured intermediate school. District and school leaders hired many new teachers, and 11 of John Sevier Elementary’s 14 teachers switched classrooms. Despite these changes, John Sevier Elementary has con- tinued to set higher goals for the entire school. Teachers and leaders are developing and implementing new ideas and sharing what works to help everyone in the building meet the rigorous goals.

Attendance Rate: 95%

TVAAS Growth Estimate (2012):

• Math: 9.1
• Reading: 7.6

TCAP Proficient/Advanced:

• Math: 55%
• Reading: 55%

Attendance rates and TCAP/EOC proficient and advanced rates are three-year averages.

Boones Creek Elementary, Washington County

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Teresa Leonard
• Grades Served: K-4
• Enrollment: 448
• Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 65%

Overview:

Boones Creek Elementary is an inspiring school in which all members work together to educate and care for all students. Faculty and staff focus on the whole child, including nutrition, health, and other basic needs, such as clothing. One example of this innovation is “Movement Moments,” which occur during the morning announcements; with music playing, the P.E. teacher talks the students through various exercises to get them energized for the day. The school attributes this morning activity and their focus on serving the whole child with their high attendance rate. Boones Creek also has the highest TVAAS growth overall of all elementary schools, and they narrowed the achievement gap for economically disadvantaged students 16.2 percentage points in math. The school leadership and teachers know their students and work with them to help them define and reach their goals. The principal has created a supportive, nurturing, yet academically challenging culture.

Attendance Rate: 95%

TVAAS Growth Estimate (2012):

• Math: 11.0
• Reading: 11.2

TCAP Proficient/Advanced:

• Math: 51%
• Reading: 51%

Attendance rates and TCAP/EOC proficient and advanced rates are three-year averages.

Pigeon Forge Primary, Sevier County

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Dr. Nancye Williams
• Grades Served: PK-4
• Enrollment: 599
• Economically Disadvantaged: 86%

Overview:

Pigeon Forge Primary, located in Sevierville, has a strong focus on student academic growth and using data to drive instruction. The school is incredibly responsive to the needs of its transient and diverse student population. School leaders empower teachers by having on-on-one conversations regarding their effect scores compared to school-wide data, which helps foster collaboration between teachers. The achievement gap for economically disadvantaged students narrowed by 5 percentage points in math.

Attendance Rate: 94%

TVAAS Growth Estimate (2012):

• Math: 8.4
• Reading: 6.6

TCAP Proficient/Advanced:

• Math: 45%
• Reading: 43%

Attendance rates and TCAP/EOC proficient and advanced rates are three-year averages.

Fairview Elementary, Anderson County

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Karen Cupples
• Grades Served: PK-5
• Enrollment: 278
• Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 60.6%

Overview:

Using data to individualize instruction is a big part of the work that Fairview does. The school has a data wall that enables them to keep track of where all students are and enables them to monitor which interventions are proving successful. The school also uses data to create its fluid mastery grouping levels for students in its 4th and 5th grades, and the school engages in a school-wide intervention for 30 minutes every day where students have the opportunity for both acceleration and remediation. Beyond data, the school has a strong sense of community that is fostered by teachers and the principal greeting every child individually in the morning, constant communication with parents about what their students are learning, and Friday Assemblies to celebrate success.

Attendance Rates:

• 2009: 95.9%
• 2010: 94.6%

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistic (2011):

• Math: 14.01
• Reading/Language Arts: 8.99

TCAP Deciles (2010-2011):

• Math: 30th to 50th
• Reading/Language Arts: 50th
• Between 2010 and 2011, Fairview Elementary narrowed its achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students by 1.04 points on the reading TCAP and by 1.28 on the math TCAP.

Charlotte Elementary, Dickson County

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Malissa Johnson
• Grades served: PK-5
• Enrollment: 555
• Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 63.2%

Overview:

Over the last decade, Principal Malissa Johnson has served as a strong instructional leader that has facilitated collaboration both inside—between teachers—and outside—between her school and the surrounding community—the building. In order to enhance instruction, the school has departmentalized its 4th and 5th grades, which benefit from the guidance provided by academic coaches that were hired with the district’s Race to the Top funds. Additionally, the school engages in “Powerblocks” where teachers use data as a team to meet individual student needs. A strong sense of community enhances the work that Charlotte Elementary engages in.

Attendance Rates:

• 2009: 95.7%
• 2010: 95.4%

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistic (2011):

• Math: 11.24
• Reading/Language Arts: 5.45

TCAP Deciles (2010-2011):

• Math: 40th to 60th
• Reading/Language Arts: 50th
• Between 2010 and 2011, Charlotte Elementary narrowed its achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students by 13.89 points on the reading TCAP and by 2.40 points on the math TCAP.

John Sevier Elementary School, Maryville City Schools

School Characteristics:

• Principal: Rick Wilson
• Grades Served: PK-4
• Enrollment: 566
• Economically Disadvantaged Rate: 60.3%

Overview:

Under the guidance of its Principal Rick Wilson, John Sevier Elementary has cultivated a data-focused culture to identify and address school-wide challenges and enable them to create fluid mastery groupings among its departmentalized 4th grade to ensure that all students have access to opportunities for remediation and enrichment they need. Wilson and his administrative staff visit every classroom every day so they can provide teachers and students with needed supports, and teachers meet consistently to figure out the best ways to integrate their lessons across disciplines. Technology, through the use of Promethean boards and student response systems, are integrated into their instruction to allow for real time formative assessments.

Attendance Rates:

• 2009: 95.6%
• 2010: 95.1%

TVAAS 3-Year Growth Standard T-Statistic (2011):

• Math: 10.55
• Reading/Language Arts: 7.61

AP Deciles (2010-2011):

• Math: 40th to 60th
• Reading/Language Arts: 50th
• Between 2010 and 2011, John Sevier Elementary narrowed its achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged students by 7.72 points on the reading TCAP and 3.57 points on the math TCAP.