Special Programs Accelerated Reader Southwest Elementary students have read at a record pace for several years, each year surpassing the one before. Accelerated Reader is a reading incentive program in which students read from an extensive list of books, take computerized comprehension tests and earn points based on the length and difficulty of the books.
Teachers can monitor their students' progress through computer generated reports.
AR has proven to be a strong motivator for students of all reading levels, but it is particularly helpful for those children whose reading levels are significantly above or below their grade levels. Every Tuesday morning the Southwest Cowboy bank is open for business. Students may open First Union savings accounts and make deposits at school. Tellers, customer service representatives and data entry clerks are all fifth grade students. They are supervised by a PTA volunteer.