December 22, 2024 — Alpine Elementary School and Clinton Elementary School students are dreaming big and achieving more this year as they both have been recognized as i-Ready Super Stretch Schools. This prestigious designation highlights the success of the staff in helping students achieve exceptional growth in reading and mathematics and the determination of the students to strive for educational goals.
"i-Ready is wonderful because the path is tailored to the student's abilities," said Clinton Elementary Principal Jesse McKown. [i-Ready allows us to] support the students still working towards mastery to receive rigorous opportunities."
i-Ready is a diagnostic and instructional tool that helps schools assess student proficiency in reading and mathematics. It provides actionable insights for educators, offering tailored resources to address each student’s needs. i-Ready identifies students below grade level and sets individualized goals to help them catch up and excel. As schools address unfinished learning from the pandemic, i-Ready plays a key role in closing achievement gaps.
"[i-Ready is] meeting the needs of all students, whether it's something that might be an intervention or more of an enrichment," said Dana Durdil, fifth grade teacher at Clinton. "As a team, we have all students set an individual math and reading goal to pass a certain number of lessons in their pathway. The confidence that they're building is showing. The students are feeling more comfortable with it, passing those lessons, and understanding them."
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted learning nationwide, leaving many students behind in reading and mathematics, with more performing below grade level now than ever before. To recover, schools are utilizing tools like i-Ready’s Stretch Growth— a set of ambitious goals that accelerate learning, helping students not only catch up, but thrive academically.
Super Stretch Schools embody a commitment to academic excellence. This recognition is reserved for schools with 200 or more students, where at least 55 percent meet their Stretch Growth goals in reading, mathematics, or both. Achieving this status reflects the collective efforts of teachers, students, and families to exceed expectations and drive noticeable progress.
"A significant reason [for our success is] the teachers are buying into the program more, which is really beautiful," McKown said. "I see a lot of people delivering the program with fidelity. The District expects that we're using the platform, and we believe in it more than just being compliant. That's when you foster the greatest change, moving from that compliance to the commitment category with the program."
In a time when many schools are grappling with unfinished learning, Clinton and Alpine are leading the way in reclaiming lost time. Their accomplishments show that with the right tools, intentional goals, and a focus on growth, it is possible to overcome the barriers created by the pandemic.
"Our students are working hard," Durdil emphasized. "They're putting forth the effort and are taking ownership of their education."
These schools not only highlight what is possible for Columbus City Schools but also serve as models for other schools striving to help students achieve grade-level proficiency post-pandemic and beyond. Their success demonstrates the power of collective effort and the importance of prioritizing growth to address learning disruptions.
