Custer Elementary presents gains in math and inclusive practices to Clover Park board
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Summary
Custer Elementary principal Kathy Wehmiller told the board that the school has made notable academic gains—particularly in math and fifth-grade ELA—highlighted demographic data and described inclusive supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
Kathy Wehmiller, principal of Custer Elementary, presented a school report at the Clover Park School District board meeting on Dec. 8 highlighting academic growth, student demographics and inclusion strategies.
Wehmiller said Custer serves a diverse student population—28.2% Hispanic and 26.5% White—and that 77.1% of students qualify as low income. She described Multi-Language Learner services, a full continuum of special-education programming, and classroom strategies such as cross-grade professional learning communities. Wehmiller said the school’s spring 2025 achievement surpassed pre-COVID levels in some grades and noted particular growth in math proficiency and fifth-grade ELA achievement.
Board members praised Custer’s math gains and asked how practices there could be replicated across the district. Wehmiller credited deliberate decisions to increase reading and writing time, integrate informational text and use shared professional learning. She also described inclusive initiatives such as lunch "kitchen aid" partnerships and the Kids at HOPE affirmation after the pledge.
The board thanked the principal and invited questions; the discussion concluded with the board moving on to other agenda items.
