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Elementary school presenters report attendance gains, set 5-point learning targets
Summary
Presenters from Davis Elementary and a small elementary school told the Braxton County Schools board on Nov. 4 that they have reduced discipline referrals, raised attendance and set targets to improve reading and math by five percentage points this school year; both schools described interventions, community partnerships and early diagnostic results.
David Selman, presenting for Davis Elementary, told the Braxton County Schools board at its Nov. 4 meeting that the school is aiming to increase the share of students performing at or above grade level by 5 percentage points in both reading and math this year, setting targets of roughly 63% in math and 64% in reading.
"The core beliefs and mission at Davis Elementary sums up to one statement: building a better world one student at a time," Selman said, and reviewed I Ready and benchmark results that show many students clustered just below grade-level benchmarks. He said last year’s math proficiency was 58% and reading 59%, and that the school intends to rely on small-group "win" instructional groups and an on-site interventionist to push students toward grade-level performance.
The presenter also highlighted discipline and attendance improvements. Selman said the school reduced referrals from 56 to 27 over two years and is targeting another modest reduction this year. He reported year-to-date attendance in the mid-90s and described a chronic absence target (a planned cut of about 3 percentage points). Selman described hands-on events and partnerships — library visits, an ag department visit, and student participation in a literature fair — as part of the school’s strategy to boost engagement and learning.
A second elementary presenter described similar work at a small school in the district: using targeted interventions, department-of-education-aligned career awareness activities and community partnerships. That presenter reported a daily average attendance of roughly 95% and a chronic absence rate reported at 7.5%. The presenter also described a new on-site food pantry started with parent volunteers and community donations, serving staff and families in the area.
Board members praised both schools’ culture and staff. One trustee noted that small schools can show large percentage swings because single students affect rates in a small enrollment, and the board and superintendent encouraged continued use of targeted interventions and community partnerships.
The meeting’s presenters made clear that the diagnostic and benchmark numbers are the starting point for intervention planning and that the next formal check-in will be the upcoming December diagnostic round.
The board heard these reports during the presentations portion of the Nov. 4 meeting and offered verbal praise; no formal board action was required on the school presentations.
