• Category 1

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: pre k - 4
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 6,885
    Student Enrollment: 629
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 5.1%
    White/Caucasian: 75.2%
    Hispanic: 12.7%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.2%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 6.7%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:13.8
    % Reduced Lunch: 62.5%
    % ELL Learners: 8.4%
    Founded: 1978
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Gary McCarley
  • CONTACT:
    784 10th Avenue SW
    Hamilton, AL 35570
    205-921-2145
    gmccarley.hes@mcbe.net
Hamilton Elementary School
Hamilton, AL
"Our students are capable of being held to higher expectations through structure, targeted professional development, and support from the school and district."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Our school has improved tremendously over the last three school-years relative to academic achievement and growth.
On the Alabama ACAP Assessments, the following improvements in proficiency have been made in the areas of ELA, math, and science from the 2020-21 school-year through the 2023-24 school-year: 2nd Grade ELA from 42% to 80% proficient, 2nd Grade Math from 38% to 64% proficient, 3rd Grade ELA from 45% to 85% proficient, 3rd Grade Math from 20% to 70% proficient, 4th Grade ELA from 64% to 76% proficient, 4th Grade Math from 16% to 54% proficient, and 4th Grade Science from 36% to 67% proficient. Our grade on the Alabama State Department of Education School Report Card has increased steadily from 2021-22 school-year through the 2023-24 school-year with our overall grade being an 88 (B) in 2021-22, a 91 (A) in 2022-23, and a 95 (A) in 2023--24. We have reached 100% student academic growth on our State Report Card for each of the last three school-years.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
The greatest contributing factors that promoted a positive change in our school are 1) structured, tiered scheduling for every scheduled minute; 2) targeted professional development in the areas of English Language Arts, math, and science; 3) setting high goals and expectations; and 4) holding people accountable for doing their jobs while at the same time offering total support.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
ESEA funding has supported our school's success by allowing us to fund four full-time interventionists--two for Tier 3 Reading instruction and two for Tier 3 Math instruction. Our reading interventionists have focused on helping our struggling readers in the areas of phonemic awareness and phonics. Our math interventionists have focused on closing gaps with our struggling math students in various areas where needs are present. ESEA funding has also been used for a Kickstart Kindergarten program in the summers prior to beginning Kindergarten, to purchase needed equipment including chromebooks, other technology, and whiteboards for our staff and students, and to partially pay the salary of our districtwide EL teacher who has helped our growing EL population to be more successful.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
The following professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning at our school: 1) LETRS Science of Reading and Kids Lips training for all ELA teachers, 2) AMSTI Math training for all math teachers, 3) and AMSTI Science training for all science teachers. In addition, several staff members were sent to the Alabama State Department of Education Summer Mega Conference for training in various areas including the Alabama Literacy Act and the Alabama Numeracy Act.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
The biggest cultural shift was our staff buying into the idea that all of our students are capable of being held to higher expectations through structure, targeted professional development, and support from the school and district level.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Our community has been involved in our school by attending our annual Open House, Parent/Teacher Conferences, Math and Literacy Night, Field Trips, and Read Across America Activities. Also, we have many parents and community members who volunteer their time to work book fairs, to help with open house, and to assist teachers with various classroom needs.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: pre k - 4
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 6,885
    Student Enrollment: 629
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 5.1%
    White/Caucasian: 75.2%
    Hispanic: 12.7%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0.2%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 6.7%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:13.8
    % Reduced Lunch: 62.5%
    % ELL Learners: 8.4%
    Founded: 1978
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Gary McCarley
  • CONTACT:
    784 10th Avenue SW
    Hamilton, AL 35570
    205-921-2145
    gmccarley.hes@mcbe.net