• Category 1

    Selected in 2018

  • Grades: 3 - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 8
    Student Enrollment: 0
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.3%
    White/Caucasian: 93%
    Hispanic: 2.8%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.3%
    Asian: 1.3%
    Native American: 0.5%
    Other: 1.8%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:17
    % Reduced Lunch: 41.2%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1958
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Jessica McCrary
  • CONTACT:
    241 8t Ave NE
    Arab, AL 35016
    256-586-6085
    jmccrary@arabcityschools.org
Arab Elementary School
Arab, AL
What we do, how we speak, and what opportunities we provide our staff, students, and communities all affect the climate of our school.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Intentionality is the hallmark of Arab Elementary School’s family and community engagement plan. The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) organizes parent volunteers who support teachers by making copies, laminating, sorting, decorating, and attending to any other needs that may arise. In order to keep the lines of communication open and build support for family involvement, AES utilizes many forms of communication including our community newspaper, school website, student planners, weekly parent newsletters, Remind, and the iNow parent portal. AES also has an active social media presence. Many of our faculty members use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to showcase the amazing learning taking place in our classrooms. Family and community partnerships are vital for all schools; however, the community in Arab rallies around our students with such eagerness and selflessness that it is unparalleled. These partnerships truly are the essence of student success at Arab Elementary School.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
“What we do, how we speak, and what opportunities we provide our staff, students, and communities all affect the climate of our school.” Sean Slade, Director of Outreach for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, eloquently summarizes the one thing that puts Arab Elementary School in position for success.

AES has been a high performing school for many years. Over the past ten years, the number of students who qualify for free and reduced priced meals has doubled. However, students at AES have continued to grow and meet the high expectations set forth by our faculty, district, and state. How have we continued to see growth? Over the years, we have used a variety of strategies; however, the most beneficial has been to focus on cultivating a fertile climate for student growth and achievement. From professional learning to developing school wide initiatives that promote kindness, every effort undertaken is directed toward continuously improving the climate.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Arab Elementary School is committed to supporting all students to ensure that each of them succeeds. In order to meet the needs of students, AES employs a strategic approach to professional development in which the needs of all students and faculty are considered. AES uses the Data Wise Improvement Process (DWIP) to analyze multiple sources of data and practices in order to identify strengths and areas for growth. The Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), which is composed of teacher representatives from each grade level, core subject, and support areas, administrators, and coaches, analyzes data and seeks research based and research proven strategies in order to create a plan for improving practice. The ILT develops the action plan to guide decision making and creates a timeline for professional development needs based on high leverage strategies. Through this process, a concerted effort for transparency and building relationships has evolved.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Arab Elementary School (AES) brings into practice a range of instructional methods, interventions, and assessments to meet the diverse and individual needs of all of our students and to achieve instructional goals. Common assessments are used in all subject areas across grade levels. Teachers collaborate to create these common assessments based on the Alabama College and Career Readiness Standards (ALCCRS). Teachers plan whole group, small group, and/or individual instruction to meet the needs of all students. Data are used to drive instruction at AES. Beginning with a variety of formative assessments to determine the effectiveness of instruction, we allow students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the standard and allow students to assess their level of understanding. Data from summative assessments are also used to identify areas of focus for the following school year.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Just as much as we encourage academic success, we also encourage social and emotional success, or to be “Choose Kind.” In order to help our students understand the importance of how we treat others, we have a school-wide initiative called “Choose Kind”. Our students are challenged to treat others with kindness. We encourage our students and teachers not only to “Choose Kind” at school, but also “Choose Kind” at home and in our community. Our goal is for our students not only to understand the importance of being academically successful but also to understand the impact of being kind to one another.

Just as we have high expectations of our students, we also have high expectations of our faculty and staff. AES has a history of high academic success. That can be attributed to the work ethic and dedication of our faculty and staff. It is evident that our teachers care about each other and support each other. We are truly a family here at AES.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2018

  • Grades: 3 - 5
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 8
    Student Enrollment: 0
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.3%
    White/Caucasian: 93%
    Hispanic: 2.8%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.3%
    Asian: 1.3%
    Native American: 0.5%
    Other: 1.8%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:17
    % Reduced Lunch: 41.2%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1958
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Jessica McCrary
  • CONTACT:
    241 8t Ave NE
    Arab, AL 35016
    256-586-6085
    jmccrary@arabcityschools.org