Shaw Heights Elementary is a public Title I school located on Shaw Air Force Base. Our school serves both military and non-military families. We strive to create a warm, nurturing environment for our students to excel and achieve in all areas. Many parent involvement opportunities are implemented throughout the school year. Teachers work collaboratively with the parents to ensure that all children have a positive learning experience. Our School Improvement Council has made a commitment to provide support for the school’s mission and performance goals and to encourage the involvement of the community.
An analysis of the results of required end-of-year SC READY assessments for 2021 revealed that our third-grade students performed below state achievement levels, but above district achievement levels. On the mathematics assessment, 29.5% of our third-grade students met or exceeded expectations, as compared to 46.9% of third-graders statewide and 26.1% of Sumter School District’s third-grade students. On the English assessment, the percentage of our students who met or exceeded expectations was 29.5% compared to 43.3% statewide and 25.7% at the district level.
Results of the 2022 Spring MAP in reading for both our second and third-grade students were also examined. The data shows that about 61% of our 3rd-grade students and 60% of our second-grade students performed in the average to above-average range in Reading. In Math, 71% of third graders and 58% of 2nd graders scored in the average to above-average range on the 2021 Spring MAP.
Teachers, students, faculty, parents, and community members share in the celebrations of our successes. Some of the steps taken to ensure our students are achieving at a high level include correlating our curriculum with the state standards, participating in ongoing professional development, intervention in reading and math, extended day and summer learning programs, educational software programs, and a variety of parent involvement activities and Title I workshops. We also involve our students in community service projects, such as Shower Shaw with Cookies/Cards. This year, in partnership with a local church, we established our weekend backpack program to help meet the physical needs of our students.
Shaw Heights Elementary faculty and staff are dedicated to the mission of educating all children to their highest potential. Our school is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by focusing on appropriate academic planning and instruction to improve the achievement of each child attending our school.
Dr. Melissa Morris