West Carroll Elementary
Second Place, West Division, Elementary Schools

Travis Carter, Principal
100 Harbor Street
Trezevant, TN 38258
West Carroll Special School District
http://www.wcssd.org/Elementary/index.html

Recipe For Success:

Behind every successful school, there is a dedicated team of individuals that works together to promote the ongoing learning process of their students. We have that team at West Carroll Elementary School. This process includes the students' emotional, social, physical, as well as, their intellectual well-being. Great teachers, a wonderful support staff, and a helpful Central Office staff work together to guarantee that our mission is accomplished.

WCES implements curriculum guides and support materials to align student learning. Each year we use curriculum mapping to minimize the gaps and overlaps that might affect our test scores. Teachers utilize SPI checklists and a Blueprint for Learning as guides to correlate skills taught with skills tested. We incorporate departmental meetings and weekly grade-level meetings to discuss any concerns that may have arisen. Our 4th through 6th grades are departmentalized, so teachers can be placed in subject areas where they are most capable. We employ a variety of research-based instructional strategies, remediation techniques, and learning activities to accommodate different learning styles. Additionally, we have incorporated into the daily schedule an extended studies' time which can be used for help with homework, as an extended class time, or for any other assistance the teachers feel necessary.

We make sure we celebrate our successes. We have an end-of-TCAP week celebration. After receiving successful TCAP scores, we have a TCAP Success Day where we enjoy a fun-day for the students supported by the collaborative efforts of our stakeholders.

The main ingredient for our recipe for success is that each teacher disaggregates all data and finds out where each student is as far as SPIs. The teacher takes the student where they are academically and moves them forward. We don't assume that just because the student is a certain age, they already have certain knowledge. We continue to evaluate policies and procedures through our School Improvement Plan Process to ensure effectiveness.

On behalf of the entire staff at West Carroll Elementary School, it is an honor to be recognized as a recipient of the Education Consumers Foundation Value-Added Achievement Award.