Southside Elementary presents data showing large K–2 gains; school moves to "exemplary" under new accountability model

Southside Elementary leaders presented K–2 MAP results and a package of instructional and engagement practices that they say produced notable gains and helped the school advance to an "exemplary" rating under the state’s new accountability system.

Jessica Reiger and Tadeetha Reebman told the board Southside first and second graders met high Tier 1 benchmarks in several areas: "our first graders are at 88" for math tier 1, and second graders are "over 90%" in some measures, the presenters said. They highlighted substantial growth from fall to winter; Reiger cited reading improvement from about 74% to 94% on one measure and credited interventions including an academic boot camp, a targeted reading intervention block, MAP incentives, curriculum alignment, family engagement nights and the Southside Mobile campus for helping staff collaborate and deliver supports.

"We moved from commendable to exemplary," a presenter said, noting the state shifted from a four-category to a five-category accountability system; she emphasized that the jump was based on last year’s third-grade IAR scores (now reflected in current fourth-grade records) and said the small grade-sample basis can produce year-to-year variability. The presenters described steps that contributed to growth: an 8-week team meeting rotation, targeted small-group instruction, cold reads practice in reading, goal-setting for students, and staff collaboration via book clubs and professional development.

Board members thanked the presenters for the work. Superintendent praised staff and students for the gains and encouraged presenters to pass praise to school staff. Presenters said the school will add a behavior team next year and continue curricular alignment and evaluation-rubric work to move toward a maintenance phase.