Science scores were up, as were reading, but social studies and math were flat. They are seeing gains among these two categories, but students in the lowest category are still struggling. The school is using SRA reading materials for remediation. They expect to see a grade level gain among the 13 percent of students in this category. Most important, however, teachers are working on not accepting anything that is below a proficient level in daily classroom work and are building in supports to achieve this goal.
Students have many ways to demonstrate their competence, including portfolios and presentations.
Students selected poems to recite or memorize, either alone or in a group, in costume and with a backdrop or props. 8th graders got to walk the trail and listen to the poems being recited. There were approximately 15 stations where students with a broad range of abilities performed with confidence and poise. The curriculum is aligned with Kentucky's standards. The school is thoughtful about strengthening the curriculum and therefore is receiving training in Different Ways of Knowing.