• Category 1

    Selected in 2013

  • Grades: 7 - 8
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1,186
    Student Enrollment: 54
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 2%
    White/Caucasian: 87%
    Hispanic: 4%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 7%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:7.4
    % Reduced Lunch: 59%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1924
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Maria Pace
  • CONTACT:
    PO Box 1346
    Boulder, MT 59632
    406-225-3316
    maria.pace@bgs.k12.mt.us
Boulder 7-8
Boulder, MT
Our focus of school change is on high quality instruction. This means we believe in meeting teachers where they are and supporting each person in their individual professional growth. We believe in staff driven decision making versus top-down change.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
The 21st Century Community Learning Center encourages family involvement throughout the year. In addition, we have a Fall into Learning and Literacy Nights where parents engage with their students in academic activities. Our school policy dictates that we deal with all parents with dignity and respect.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
Our school implemented multiple parent/family nights where students interacted with their parents and teachers in learning activities ranging from Rube Goldberg activities to Dr. Seuss research presentations. Parents participated in science experiments, social studies Jeopardy and technology activities. In addition to incorporating families, we have worked to invite the local media in these school activities.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Our focus of school change is on high quality instruction. This means we believe in meeting teachers where they are and supporting each person in their individual professional growth. We believe in staff driven decision making versus top-down change.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
The single most effective factor that has led to our school's success is the core belief that all students are held to the highest standard of excellence and accountability. This led to the development of a 7:30 - 4:00 school day.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
The implementation of the Response to Intervention model has led to higher rates of student achievement in reading and math.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Title I funds support our improvement efforts through professional development for support staff and teachers, employment of support staff and instructional materials.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
The critical professional development activities started with staff-wide training in differentiated instruction. This supported implementation of the RTI model, Understanding by Design, the Danielson model, and Quantum learning. All of this led to an emphasis on student engagement and quality instruction.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Our school uses data to drive our conversations about students. For example, we use data to place students in enrichment and remediation groups for reading and math. In addition, we use the data to guide professional development activities. We use continual formative assessments to monitor the progress of our students and guide instruction.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Both staff and students at our school embrace diversity. This leads to an openness in our school culture of acceptance for all. This means that teachers feel that there is academic freedom to take risks. We believe in continual growth in professional development and curriculum. For example we adopted the character education program The 8 Keys of Excellence. We are continually striving for excellence at all levels.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2013

  • Grades: 7 - 8
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1,186
    Student Enrollment: 54
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 2%
    White/Caucasian: 87%
    Hispanic: 4%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 7%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:7.4
    % Reduced Lunch: 59%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1924
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Maria Pace
  • CONTACT:
    PO Box 1346
    Boulder, MT 59632
    406-225-3316
    maria.pace@bgs.k12.mt.us