• Category 1

    Selected in 2013

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 41,635
    Student Enrollment: 731
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 8%
    White/Caucasian: 78%
    Hispanic: 12%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 1%
    Native American: 1%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:22
    % Reduced Lunch: 74%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1999
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Donna Schultz
  • CONTACT:
    4101 Mistrot Drive
    Meraux, LA 70075
    504-267-7890
    dschultz@sbpsb.org
Joseph Davies Elementary School
Meraux, LA
Because many of our PTO officers or other members are at school on a daily basis, we felt it important to provide space for them. Therefore, they are given a classroom to use to hold PTO Officer Meetings or to do other work to prepare for events and activities taking place around school.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
We have a very active PTO at Davies Elementary. Meetings are held every other month in the school Presentation Area. Because many of our PTO officers or other members are at school on a daily basis, we felt it important to provide space for them. Therefore, they are given a classroom to use to hold PTO Officer Meetings or to do other work to prepare for events and activities taking place around school. Having a place of their own conveys the message that we value their participation and commitment to our school. Their presence in and around our school conveys the message to everyone that we are all active stakeholders in the success of our students.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
At Davies we truly believe that in order to accomplish our vision of becoming a school of academic excellence we must develop a partnership of staff, students, families and the community. We strive to nurture this partnership throughout the year by having many activities and events that are open to our families and the community. Such events include our Nine Week Award Ceremonies, the Fall Fest, our Christmas Concert, the Pelican Players performance, the Talent Show, participating in the Christmas Tour of Homes, Christmas at Docville, the Lexington neighborhood parade, the Krewe of Davies Parade, the Spring Concert, Family Literacy and Math Night, Grandparents Day, among many others. We also have Business Partners that provide volunteers at our school events or support for our many projects and activities. Partnerships include the Kiwanis, Chalmette Refining LLC., Valero Refinery, St. Bernard Volunteers of Family and Community, Gulf Coast Bank, Gladeville Baptisit Church of Tennessee, to name a few.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Goal #1 is to implement instructional strategies that support the Common Core State Standards.

Goal #2 is to increase student academic success through data driven instruction.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
The single most important factor in the success of Davies Elementary is that data drives all of our instructional decisions. All of our teachers are given Data Binders to collect the data and we analyze it weekly at Grade Level Meetings. Data collected includes Weekly Assessments, Nine Week Benchmark Assessments, DIBELS Benchmark Assessments (K-3), and Progress Monitoring (K-3), iSteep (4-5 grade). All of our assessments and instruction is aligned with Common Core State Standards.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
All instructional decisions are based on student data. Each teacher has a Data Binder in which data is collected and analyzed weekly. Teachers in grades 3-5 calculate their Class Index Score based on the students’ data from the previous year, using the Index Calculator provided by the state for Standardized Testing. Individual student test scores are used by teachers to set a learning goal for each student. After each 9 Week Benchmark Assessment, the Index Score for each class is recalculated. This gives the teachers a sense of whether students are improving as the year progresses. Individual data is used for teachers to form intervention groups in order to remediate students not reaching benchmark. The use of data allows teachers to zero in on the specific learning needs of each student. The Student Assistance Team periodically examines the results of data to determine the effectiveness of interventions and to make adjustments as needed to meet individual student needs.

Universal Testing is administered three times a year using the DIBELS assessment in grades K-3. Data collected from these assessments provide the information needed to form intervention groups. Progress Monitoring of students occurs monthly and with students at risk bimonthly. Progress Monitoring data aids in forming Profile Groups that target specific deficiencies.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2013

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 41,635
    Student Enrollment: 731
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 8%
    White/Caucasian: 78%
    Hispanic: 12%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 1%
    Native American: 1%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:22
    % Reduced Lunch: 74%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1999
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Donna Schultz
  • CONTACT:
    4101 Mistrot Drive
    Meraux, LA 70075
    504-267-7890
    dschultz@sbpsb.org