Astor and LC Designated Model Schools
Two Astoria Schools, Astor Elementary and Lewis and Clark Elementary, have earned the designation “Model School” under the Oregon Department of Education’s new ranking system, the Astoria School District announced Friday.
Astor Elementary and Lewis and Clark Elementary are among only 27 in the entire state that received the designation.
The purpose of the ranking system is to reveal how well individual schools teach reading and math, especially to minority students, those in special education, and those whose first language is not English. The state uses the rankings and designations in determining how to allocate federal Title I money among schools to improve learning for children from low-income families. The U.S. Department of Education provides Title I funds to states to distribute among school districts based on the number of children from low-income families in each district.
Astoria School District Board Chair Laura Snyder congratulated the two schools on behalf of the community. “I’m so proud of the students, staff and administrators at both Astor Elementary and Lewis and Clark Elementary Schools,” Snyder said. “To successfully and decisively improve teaching and learning in the face of near-devastating financial challenges is a testament to the commitment and passion that is prevalent in our school district.”
This is a great tribute to staff at both schools who have worked tirelessly to identify and meet the needs of students. The effort by both Astor Elementary and Lewis and Clark Elementary has produced results, and it’s wonderful that the state Department of Education has recognized their hard work by designating both Astor Elementary and Lewis and Clark Elementary as model schools.
Lewis and Clark Elementary has been a school in improvement for three years, but the improvement program has been on hold over this past year. Astor Elementary received the same “Model School” rating from the state. The teachers and staffs at Astor Elementary and Lewis and Clark Elementary work collaboratively on aligning state and national standards. The collaboration also extends to working to meet individual students’ needs.
The results these two schools have achieved will serve as a model for other schools throughout the state as they deal with the challenge of helping students succeed.