Blue Ridge Elementary Makes Leap in Test Scores
From the bottom to the top, Blue Ridge Elementary has bounced off the bad school list.
Luz Mariscale couldn't be more proud.
As a parent volunteer, she's seen the change firsthand.
"They love the exercise in the morning and I guess that really helps a lot," said Luz Mariscale.
Luz is talking about the platooning concept, used locally by the Burbank School District. Platooning assigns teachers a homeroom. But then they move between two other classes to teach the subject they specialize in. And it's rigorous. In Spanish class, kids are only spoken to in Spanish. Most important, instead of learning one subject, one day a week, kids are now taught them every day for up to an hour at a time.
"I think it's working quite well," said Principal Kim Dopkery.
And it shows... Last year, less than 30% of students passed the writing portion in standardized testing, and less than 20% passed in science. This year those numbers jumped to 50% in writing and almost 80% in science.
"Another mom said now my child's being prepared for middle school, the responsibility of different classes, different expectations, homework and responsibility," said Principal Dopkery.
The new programs don't just go from classroom to classroom; PE teachers are even shaking things up a bit to help make this a team effort.
PE teachers know what each grade is supposed to do every day to keep kids on track.
"It's like a road map. They know where they're going and then when they leave they know what they've accomplished for the day," said Sue Hanson PE Specialist.
Luz thinks families at Blue Ridge now understand that to make a difference, the learning can't stop with the school bell.
"As parents we have to do our part at home," said Mariscale.
As a focus for success.
Luz Mariscale couldn't be more proud.
As a parent volunteer, she's seen the change firsthand.
"They love the exercise in the morning and I guess that really helps a lot," said Luz Mariscale.
Luz is talking about the platooning concept, used locally by the Burbank School District. Platooning assigns teachers a homeroom. But then they move between two other classes to teach the subject they specialize in. And it's rigorous. In Spanish class, kids are only spoken to in Spanish. Most important, instead of learning one subject, one day a week, kids are now taught them every day for up to an hour at a time.
"I think it's working quite well," said Principal Kim Dopkery.
And it shows... Last year, less than 30% of students passed the writing portion in standardized testing, and less than 20% passed in science. This year those numbers jumped to 50% in writing and almost 80% in science.
"Another mom said now my child's being prepared for middle school, the responsibility of different classes, different expectations, homework and responsibility," said Principal Dopkery.
The new programs don't just go from classroom to classroom; PE teachers are even shaking things up a bit to help make this a team effort.
PE teachers know what each grade is supposed to do every day to keep kids on track.
"It's like a road map. They know where they're going and then when they leave they know what they've accomplished for the day," said Sue Hanson PE Specialist.
Luz thinks families at Blue Ridge now understand that to make a difference, the learning can't stop with the school bell.
"As parents we have to do our part at home," said Mariscale.
As a focus for success.
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