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ALBANY, N.Y. (May 15, 2008)
-- Eight City School District of Albany elementary schools have been
recognized by the State Department of Education as “rapidly improving”
schools, signifying the district’s continued efforts to close the
achievement gap and raise student success city-wide.
The “rapidly improving”
distinction identifies schools that met their state performance
benchmarks in one or more subject areas in each of the past three years
and improved their performance in areas where they were below state
standards. Joining 365 other New York public schools on the list
announced May 15 were:
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Albany School of
Humanities
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Arbor Hill Elementary
School
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Delaware Community
School
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Giffen Memorial
Elementary School
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Montessori Magnet School
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North Albany Academy
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Pine Hills Elementary
School
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Sheridan Preparatory
Academy
“It is with great pleasure
and pride that I congratulate the students and staff at each of these
schools for their hard work and these fine accomplishments,” said
Superintendent Eva C. Joseph, Ed.D. “Closing the achievement gap is our
district’s primary goal, and we have worked and will continue to work
aggressively toward doing so.
“We know we must continue
our work to eliminate the achievement gap in all of our schools.
However, to be recognized with this distinction in eight of our schools
shows not only that our efforts are paying off, but that greater
achievement is on the horizon.”
Dr.
Joseph
said that the district places a strong emphasis on
quality teaching, a strong literacy foundation through initiatives such
as Reading Recovery and the nationally renowned Writing Workshop Program
from Teachers College at Columbia University, the nationally recognized
elementary Math Trailblazers curriculum and a strong science curriculum.
The district also believes strongly in maintaining small class sizes (an
average of 20 students district-wide) and invests in its teachers
through a variety of professional development initiatives, including its
partnership with the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education.
The City School
District of Albany serves approximately 8,600 students in 18
elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood
schools, the district includes several
magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic
opportunities for students. The
district is more than halfway through its comprehensive facilities
project to newly build and/or renovate nearly all of its elementary
and middle schools. The ultimate goal of the facilities project is
to provide schools with the resources necessary to help students
succeed in the 21st century. |
