Snowhorse Elementary presented to the Davis County School District board workshop, highlighting high early-grade benchmarks, team-driven instruction and student-led outreach programs.

The school’s presenter said Snowhorse’s mission centers on a safe, caring environment and described five core values that guide teacher collaboration, outreach and student engagement. The presentation noted regular PLCs (professional learning communities), monthly progress-monitoring for students on color-coded trackers, and school-wide data dives conducted at the start, middle and end of the year.

Why it matters: Snowhorse framed its work as a model of how school-level teamwork, frequent monitoring and student leadership can improve early-literacy and math outcomes. The board singled the site out as an example other schools could study during district strategic-planning discussions.

Key details: The presenter reported that last year 86% of Snowhorse students were at or above literacy benchmark at year’s end and that 91% of kindergartners were at or above benchmark. The presenter described math growth for early grades (k–3) where 76% of students showed midyear gains, and said the school’s sixth grade posted about 75% proficiency in the district RISE math measure. The transcript includes a schoolwide RISE figure rendered as “60 per 8%” in the presentation materials; that phrasing could not be independently clarified from the transcript and is reported here as stated.

Programs and practices: Snowhorse described targeted Tier 2 interventions in math and behavior (check-in/check-out systems), a PBS/Thrive recognition structure (classroom rewards and weekly drawings), an attendance incentive tied to a rotating mascot and student-led recess clubs that organize playground games and cross-grade activities. The school also described being designated a DSD Unified School and participating in an elementary decathlon; it reported producing 1,403 holiday cards for military personnel through a student campaign.

Board response and follow-up: Board members praised the school’s results and asked clarifying questions. One board member asked what share of kindergartners attended preschool or Head Start; the presenter said many students came from private preschool programs and noted kindergarten proficiency improved from about 56% at the start of the year to the reported 91% by year’s end. The recess-club question elicited examples: partner-for-square across grades and a planned hot-chocolate 'get-to-know-you' activity run by student leaders.

Next steps: The board thanked Snowhorse’s presenters (Dr. Talbot and Annette Rushforth) and used the presentation as a local example as the district moves into strategic-plan focus-area selections in January.