• Category 1

    Selected in 2020

  • Grades: k - 3
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 3,000
    Student Enrollment: 526
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.8%
    White/Caucasian: 91.6%
    Hispanic: 6.8%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.6%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 50%
    % ELL Learners: 6%
    Founded: 1919
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Shannon Davis
  • CONTACT:
    87 S B St
    Pottsville, AR 72858
    479-968-2133
    shannon.davis@pottsvilleschools.org
Pottsville Elementary School
Pottsville, AR
Our school is very welcoming to students and their families.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
Pottsville Elementary has a very positive relationship with local community members. Our yearly fundraiser, the "Harvest Hoe Down," involves many community members from the PTO, City of Pottsville, local businesses, and students from Arkansas Tech University. We have a great number of community members come eat the chicken dinner, which is donated and cooked by Tyson Foods. Students and families participate in games, bump-n-jumps, and a hay-ride. Prior to the event, we have several assemblies that involve the whole school participating in fun competitions with each other. On the final assembly, the King and Queen of the Hoe Down is announced.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
"What is best for our students?" should be the catalyst to school change. Base on research and teacher ownership.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Ensure that each staff member is proficient in Science of Reading.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
We have developed vertical and horizontal learning maps that each teacher and grade level use to plan instruction. However, we allow a lot of instructional freedom with our teachers with regard to how the required curriculum is taught. Although our grade levels and teachers work together to plan meaningful learning experiences, we understand that every classroom may be paced differently, based on the needs and personalities of their students, as well as the personality and disposition of the classroom teacher.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
Reading Recovery
RTI
Assessment Walls
1:1
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Pottsville Elementary uses data in many ways. At the beginning of each year, Pottsville Elementary teachers, led by our Instructional Facilitator (Mrs. Cox) analyze data from the previous year's assessments. We identify strengths and weaknesses in instruction/curriculum and each grade level develops a plan to address our areas of weakness within their grade levels.

Additionally, we have "Assessment Wall" meetings with each teacher team at least once per quarter. Prior to the meetings, teachers analyze data from common assessments, NWEA, ACT/Aspire, teacher-made assessments, STAR, etc. During the meetings, we identify struggling students and find ways they can get additional support or intervention.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Building positive relationships with each other, our children, and their families is at the core of our school culture. Our school is very welcoming to students and their families. Our staff members love children, and it shows in the learning experiences they plan for their students. They go above and beyond to help their students be successful, while having fun with their learning. We want students to love school as much as we love teaching them. We strive to develop positive relationships with parents so they will feel like they are a part of their child's educational community.

In a nutshell, Pottsville Elementary could be described as a a welcome and inviting school, with teachers who love each and every child, and expects every student to learn at a high level.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2020

  • Grades: k - 3
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 3,000
    Student Enrollment: 526
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.8%
    White/Caucasian: 91.6%
    Hispanic: 6.8%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.6%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 50%
    % ELL Learners: 6%
    Founded: 1919
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Shannon Davis
  • CONTACT:
    87 S B St
    Pottsville, AR 72858
    479-968-2133
    shannon.davis@pottsvilleschools.org