• Category 1

    Selected in 2023

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1,625
    Student Enrollment: 542
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 23.2%
    White/Caucasian: 71.4%
    Hispanic: 4.8%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.2%
    Native American: 0.4%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
    % Reduced Lunch: 66.1%
    % ELL Learners: 3.7%
    Founded: 1970
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Allen Kirby
  • CONTACT:
    2358 Walker Gamble Rd
    New Zion, SC 29111
    843-659-2102
    allen.kirby@clarendoncsd.org
Walker Gamble Elementary School
New Zion, SC
Relationships are strengthened through the schoolwide house system which fosters leadership, loyalty, knowledge, and courage.
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
After a seven-year stretch of "average" ratings by the South Carolina Department of Education, Walker Gamble Elementary School went from "good" to "excellent" to "below average." Under new administration and a collective leadership initiative, WGES has made notable strides to progress from "below average" to "good" to "excellent" over the past four years. A significant aspect of the latest upward trend is based on student achievement and growth. Walker Gamble Elementary School's success can also be attributed to a schoolwide master schedule which allows a focus on effective tiered instruction. Because of this, WGES has seen momentous growth in the amount of students scoring in the meets and exceeds categories in both literacy and mathematics, along with gains shown by the lowest twenty percent of students.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
WGES participates in collective leadership which encourages a collaborative culture and opportunities for teacher leadership. It has led to shared influences, effective communication, and the establishment of strong relationships. Stakeholders have worked to revise the master schedule which has helped maximize instructional time and establish intervention blocks. Students receive instruction based on academic needs during interventions. There has been notable academic improvement since the implementation of the revised master schedule. Interventionists have also played a significant role in impacting student achievement over the past several years by creating opportunities for personalized instruction to occur. Instructional and reading coaches were hired within the past three years. Coaches collaboratively work with teachers to increase tier I instruction, analyze assessment data, identify areas of weakness, and develop personalized learning opportunities for students.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
ESEA funding has allowed Walker Gamble Elementary School to fund an instructional coach, interventionists, and instructional assistants. The instructional coach has played a pivotal role in teachers’ professional development, data-driven decision-making, and implementation of research-based best practices. Interventionists serve tier III students by providing academic interventions based on areas of need, thus resulting in student growth and achievement. Instructional assistants allow student-adult ratios to remain low, help teachers individualize instruction, and permit optimal opportunities for small group learning.

4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Grade level teachers, academic coaches, and administrators regularly collaborate during PLC and planning meetings to discuss instructional practices, assessment data, and tiered interventions. Meeting topics relate to current data trends, specific teacher or grade level needs, and personalized learning. A number of recent professional development sessions relate to tiered instruction. More specifically, teachers have analyzed new tiered instructional methods to implement within small groups to increase student understanding of academic content. There has been a greater emphasis placed on early childhood reading and math foundational skills. The district instructional technology coach has also implemented several professional development sessions relating to grade level appropriate technology programs and software that can be used within the classroom to increase student engagement and understanding of content.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
The current administration has paved the way for collective leadership which fosters collaboration and builds teacher leaders. The initiative helped the administration shift from a top-down leadership approach to a more teacher-centered approach. Staff members are provided opportunities to assume leadership roles within the school and provide input regarding decisions, schedules, and events. Administrators also value relationships with students, staff members, and the community. The principal invites stakeholders to participate in regular school events and activities. Individual meetings are held frequently with the principal and staff members. During meetings, individuals have the opportunity to share personal and professional goals and experiences. Administrators and staff members take pride in building relationships with students. Relationships are strengthened through the schoolwide house system which fosters leadership, loyalty, knowledge, and courage.

6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Walker Gamble Elementary School prides itself on community involvement and participation. The school is nestled in a very small, very rural community that supports teachers, administrators, and staff members in many capacities. Parents are invited to attend all school functions from awards programs, to student-led conferences, to student theater productions, to festivals and dances, to STEAM and literacy events. Coffee with the Principal is a monthly event in which parents are invited to visit with the principal to ask questions, review assessment data, and provide input. Parents also serve on the School Improvement Council, are PTO leaders, and volunteer as CCLC [Clarendon Christian Learning Center] teachers. A number of local community businesses partner with Walker Gamble Elementary School to support various functions and activities including back to school events, school celebrations, fall festivals, field day, and field trips.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2023

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 1,625
    Student Enrollment: 542
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 23.2%
    White/Caucasian: 71.4%
    Hispanic: 4.8%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.2%
    Native American: 0.4%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
    % Reduced Lunch: 66.1%
    % ELL Learners: 3.7%
    Founded: 1970
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Allen Kirby
  • CONTACT:
    2358 Walker Gamble Rd
    New Zion, SC 29111
    843-659-2102
    allen.kirby@clarendoncsd.org