• Category 2

    Selected in 2022

  • Grades: k - 5
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 19
    Student Enrollment: 329
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 48.3%
    White/Caucasian: 39.8%
    Hispanic: 5.2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:25
    % Reduced Lunch: 54%
    % ELL Learners: 4%
    Founded: 1981
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Yolanda Thomas
  • CONTACT:
    400 Pine Forest Drive
    North Little Rock, AR 72118
    501-851-5380
    ythomas@pcssd.org
Pine Forest Elementary School
North Little Rock, AR
"The greatest contribution to positive change in our school was collaboration, teamwork, scheduling, and interventions."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Our teachers and students met the challenge of the past two years with optimism and grit. As a result of due diligence, students' ESEA Value Growth Score of 84.43 exceeded the state average for the 21-22 school year. PFE is successful due to teacher dedication and commitment to the students, parents, and the community.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
The greatest contributing factors that promoted positive change in our school were collaboration, teamwork, scheduling, and interventions. All certified teachers including interventionists, instructional coaches, and specialty teachers (art, music, pe, counselor, media, gifted and talented ) played a significant role in the instructional process inside and outside of the classroom. In addition, specialty teachers supported the vision related to the RTI process and provided individual interventions for students in need of extra support. The gifted and talented teachers provided inclusion and hands on learning opportunities. Specific small group focus on enriching and remediating students helped to grow all students, along withtargeted use of technology programs.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
The funding provided through ESEA allowed for the staffing of additional personnel such as a Math Instructional Coach, Literacy Instructional Coach, K-2 Academic Interventionist, and a 3rd-5th Academic Interventionist that provided instructional support.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Strategic and intentional half day grade level planning and collaboration sessions were conducted each quarter to analyze data sources and ensure that planning instruction and curriculum implementation was effective.
Professional Learning Communities and vertical teams focused on the work guided by DeFour's 4 questions.
All teachers participated in the AVID Summer Institute; which focused on AVID strategies for each month and ultimately increased teacher and student engagement.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Cultural relevant teaching related to the whole child regardless of socioeconomic status. We truly met the students which lead to the cultural shift that led to our school's success. Understanding the emotional toil of the pandemic and the gaps students returned with helped us to meet the child at their level and fill gaps with targeted instruction.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Pine Forest Elementary receives support from the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
The PTO was instrumental in providing instructional materials for teachers and emotional support for teachers with monthly inspirational notes and treats. Walmart donated items for our school store throughout the year to keep students motivated to learn while celebrating student behavior and success.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2022

  • Grades: k - 5
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 19
    Student Enrollment: 329
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 48.3%
    White/Caucasian: 39.8%
    Hispanic: 5.2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:25
    % Reduced Lunch: 54%
    % ELL Learners: 4%
    Founded: 1981
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Yolanda Thomas
  • CONTACT:
    400 Pine Forest Drive
    North Little Rock, AR 72118
    501-851-5380
    ythomas@pcssd.org