• Category 1

    Selected in 2014

  • Grades: pre k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 2,003
    Student Enrollment: 125
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 5%
    White/Caucasian: 94%
    Hispanic: 0.5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0.5%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12.5
    % Reduced Lunch: 63%
    % ELL Learners: 0.5%
    Founded: 1941
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Travis Heavner
  • CONTACT:
    P. O. Box 247 • 11480 Blue Gray Trail
    Brandywine, WV 26802
    304-249-5381
    theavner@k12.wv.us
Brandywine Elementary School
Brandywine, WV
One of the most important factors that helps our school is that our teachers set high expectations for students. From the first day of school to the last, our teachers communicate expectations to their students by sharing data and encouraging higher levels of effort in all areas of the school.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
At Brandywine Elementary, we try to involve our community as much as possible. We start our year off in August with an Open House. We invite our students' parents and family members to our school for a tour and an introduction to the teachers for the upcoming year. Throughout the year, teachers invite parents into their classrooms to work on various activities. We also do an awards ceremony at the end of each semester.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Our school is currently working very hard to improve reading scores. We fell slightly below our projected level on the state benchmark test last year. We would really like to show significant growth in reading this year.

Another goal this year is for teachers to use our Next Generation Standards fully. This is the first year that all grade levels should be using them for planning instruction.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
One of the most important factors that helps our school is that our teachers set high expectations for students. From the first day of school to the last, our teachers communicate expectations to their students by sharing data and encouraging higher levels of effort in all areas of the school.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Teachers at BES use STAR reader, STAR math, and STAR early literacy data to group students for instruction in their classrooms. In our younger classrooms, our interventionist uses the PSI and PASI screener to monitor student progress. She then shares this information with the classroom teachers. She co-teaches lessons as well as pulls small groups of students.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Brandywine Elementary has around 125 students PK-6th grade. The teachers and support staff work well together to instruct students. The staff meets in small PLCs about four or five times per year. In these meetings, we discuss things like student achievement, PBS, AR, writing, and strengths and weaknesses of our different grade levels. Teachers in PLCs share ideas and brainstorm ways to improve instruction.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2014

  • Grades: pre k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 2,003
    Student Enrollment: 125
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 5%
    White/Caucasian: 94%
    Hispanic: 0.5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0.5%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12.5
    % Reduced Lunch: 63%
    % ELL Learners: 0.5%
    Founded: 1941
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Travis Heavner
  • CONTACT:
    P. O. Box 247 • 11480 Blue Gray Trail
    Brandywine, WV 26802
    304-249-5381
    theavner@k12.wv.us