Search

If we have articulated in the school mission statement that all students can learn, what do we do when some are not performing at a proficient level? This was the question the principal and faculty at Skyview Elementary School in Thornton, Colorado, asked themselves when they saw the test scores in the spring of 2002, indicating that a majority of students were below proficiency in reading and math. It was clear that action was needed. Like most schools, Skyview serves an increasingly diverse student population. The mobility rate is growing along with the percentage of ESL students and those receiving free and reduced-cost lunch. And yet, just a year later, the school showed an increase of between 25 and 29 points on tests for fifth-grade reading, writing, and math, earning recognition by the Colorado Department of Education. How did Skyview accomplish so much in such a short time?