During the  2024-2025 school year, we were "Lighting the way to Excellence" at Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School. Teachers became the light and guided our students through effectively navigating the learning process. Based on our needs assessment, we structured our goals around five specific areas: Academics, Attendance, Arts, Culture/Climate, and Student Empowerment.

Our vision is integrating the arts and science to grow life-long learners. Research supports the integration of the arts and science content areas because they directly contribute to the development of the four C’s: Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity. 

We have continued our efforts in increasing the number of students who are reading on grade level while closing gaps in the areas of reading and math.  We will continue to focus on making data- driven decisions using tools such as IRLA, MAP, Mastery Connect and Easy CBM to guide small group instruction needs and intervention as well as including daily spiral reviews and calendar math activities on a daily basis to improve tier one instruction in all grade levels.  

In addition to a focus on student data, we will use PLC minutes, walk through observations, formal evaluations, and teacher coaching conferences as an indicator to determine professional development needs, areas of support, and assistance or instructional techniques/strategies that are necessary to ensure individual students’ academic needs are met and all students grow from where they enter at the beginning of the year.

We have continued our magnet focused areas by including Arts-focused clubs such as dance, chorus, piano and band for our elementary students. We will continue with these efforts because they are research-based strategies that can increase the level of engagement during instruction as well as igniting a love for school and a love for learning. We have also been awarded the status of being a Green Steps school.

We provide the foundational skills necessary to communicate and collaborate effectively, but also focus on giving students strategies to grow socially, mentally and emotionally. We have a daily advisement period to confer with students and provide socio-emotional lessons using both Capturing Kids’ Hearts, Leadworthy Moments and Panorama curriculum.  We begin each day with a social emotional check in for students and staff and provide strategies and reminders to use throughout the day to stay focused. Our socio-emotional counselor also provides support to whole groups, small groups, and individuals based on identified needs. 

Every year we are moving forward and gaining momentum. We will continue to sail forward and grow our students in becoming life-long learners and developing the world class skills that will be needed.

Melanie Dukes McKnight, Principal,

Wanda Weber, SIC President