Almost any discussion of the success of the Lowndes County School District begins with Caledonia Elementary School. As far back as 2010, when Caledonia Elementary was the only LCSD school to rate as a “Star” school, the highest level awarded in the state’s accountability rating, it has led the way.
In 2014, Caledonia Elementary was selected as a Blue Ribbon School (top 300 public elementary schools in the nation) and Top 50 the following year. Since switching to the A-through-F accountability scores in 2017, Caledonia Elementary has been a straight-A school.
Its success sometimes obscures the achievements of other schools in the district. Across the river, West Lowndes Elementary School has quietly established itself as a place where students excel. Caledonia Elementary deserves its laurels, but in some respects what is happening at West Lowndes Elementary is more remarkable because of just how far it has come.
A decade ago, West Lowndes Elementary struggled to keep up with its peers. But in recent years, small steps have become pretty big strides. Since the A-F accountability measures began, West Lowndes Elementary has been a B or C school every year, no small feat. West Lowndes has earned a B the last two years, and one suspects it may be only a matter of time before it achieves that coveted A rating.
This week, results of the second round of third-grade state reading assessment testing were shared with The Dispatch. Each year, students have three chances to pass the test, which allows them to advance to the fourth grade. West Lowndes Elementary won’t have to worry about any “third time’s the charm” this year. Of its 23 third-graders, more than 91% passed on the first try. The others passed on the second attempt.
That’s no small achievement.
What can be learned from this? Plenty.
For one, there’s sometimes an advantage in being the Little School That Could. With 23 students divided into two third-grade classrooms, there is far more one-on-one attention for students. We have long noted that small classes perform better for that reason.
Second, third-grade teachers Leslie Jones and Josephine Sherrod, along with special education Heather Fenster, have created an environment where struggling students get the help they need. Again, familiarity with these students plays an important role. Understanding the child and what works for that child is a big part of the equation.
The third element is parent engagement. Almost all of the third-grade parents at West Lowndes Elementary attended parents meetings prior to the initial round of testing. Keeping parents informed and engaged reinforces what students are taught in school.
The third-grade reading assessment is just one measure, but the dynamics that surround the testing at West Lowndes – individual attention, teamwork among educators and parental support – should produce similar results in other areas.
The school district should be proud and excited about what is happening at West Lowndes Elementary.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.