Hargrove hires teachers who believe low-income minority students can excel. One-third aren't fully certified, but they are all outstanding teachers, Hargrove says. Despite the long work hours expected, staff turnover is low. Curriculum is designed to teach the state's standards, with frequent assessment to make sure students are learning. Those who aren't keeping up get extra help from volunteer tutors and from teachers who stay after school or teach Saturday classes.
Parents get copies of the standards for their children's grade levels, so they know what to expect.
Parents turn out for Back to School Night. Some attend the daily morning assembly, where students hear how smart and capable they are, and are recognized for reaching their goals. In addition, students read books on their own and use the Accelerated Reader computer program to test their comprehension. The program has questions for thousands of books. Students are grouped by skill needs for reading and social studies, so they can work on what they need to learn.