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Summer school at Wildwood reports strong EL participation and measurable learning gains
Summary
Ralston's Wildwood summer program served K–3 and EL students with strong staff-to-student ratios, partner activities and daily meals; program data showed 96% of attending students made significant growth and EL students had 100% attendance.
Ralston Public Schools staff reported outcomes from the district’s summer school program held at Wildwood, saying students served K–3 and English learners showed measurable academic gains and high attendance where families participated.
Melanie Williams, who led the summer program presentation, told the school board the program enrolled 93 students (K–3 and English learners) with six certified and ten classified staff, which produced “amazing staff to student ratios” and strong growth: “96% of those students who attended summer school showed significant growth,” Williams said.
Program details Williams provided include daily breakfast and weekend food packs (as available), a three-hour session structure, and curricular supports such as CQLA, UFLI interventions and FastBridge pre/post measures. She said EL students had 100% attendance and that overall kindergarten attendance was 91% while third grade was 92%.
Nut Graf: District staff said the program blended instruction with community partnerships — for example, the Henry Doorly Zoo provided outreach events and the Bean Bridal Library signed students up for summer reading — and used small-group, co-teaching models to increase adult attention and learning opportunities.
Williams said enrichment activities — Zoo Olympics, Grossology programming and on-site library sign-ups — were paired with academic interventions. Teachers used pre/post assessments daily to track progress and implemented station rotations and paraprofessional-supported follow-ups that staff described as “very fluid.”
Board members asked whether scheduling and transportation limited participation; Williams said some families declined because of travel or prior plans, and the district will explore options such as pairing adult English classes or childcare with summer instruction to reach working families.
Ending: Board members thanked staff and community partners for the program, and asked staff to explore ways to boost participation among working families next year. No board action was required.
