• Category 3

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 12,350
    Student Enrollment: 247
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 1%
    White/Caucasian: 68%
    Hispanic: 24%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 2%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 5%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 54%
    % ELL Learners: 19%
    Founded: 2001
  • PRINCIPAL:
    David Geiger
  • CONTACT:
    205 Park Street
    Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
    920-563-7828
    geigerd@fortschools.org
Luther Elementary School
Fort Atkinson, WI
"We recognize the importance of making school fun and engaging for the learners."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Luther Elementary has drastically improved its State of WI accountability score moving from a score of 75.6 (Exceeds Expectations) in 2021 to a score of 91.3 (Significantly Exceeds Expectations) in 2024.

Luther's growth for students was the same or higher than 98.4% of K-5 schools in the state.

Luther earned a perfect 100 point score for growth in English Language Arts indicating that every student made at least a full year of academic growth. 95% of students made a full year of growth in math the same year.

In addition to academic success, Luther celebrates 98.5% attendance rate and a robust social-emotional learning program ensuring that the school is a safe and welcoming place for all learners.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
Both social emotional learning and academics are equally important and valued at Luther Elementary. The school has a strong commitment to math and literacy instruction focusing on growth, achievement and meeting students where they are at with differentiated instruction.

Social emotional learning is integrated into all content areas as well as provided in focused classroom community time. The school utilizes an equity-based comprehensive Multi-Level Systems of Support (MLSS) model for intervention including reading and math intervention, special education, multilingual learning programming, behavior intervention and a school pupil services team including a school counselor and social worker

The school has a strong school improvement plan with goals aligned to the district’s strategic plan and state accountability system
Monitoring our progress in AMP meetings. Grade level and individual student progress is monitored throughout the year within data collaboration sessions.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
The school has benefitted from reading and math intervention staff funded by Title 1 and applied in a Title 1 Schoolwide program model. Intervention FTE provides targeted intervention in math and reading using research-based programs and layered upon aligned core instruction for transfer to the classroom.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Collaborative culture - PLCs and AMPs
The professional learning communities model is highly valued at Luther Elementary. Educators meet in PLCs almost daily as grade level partners, and student teams to plan for instruction and student support. As a district educators meet in district grade level PLCs monthly. The school engages in weekly pupil service meetings as well as leadership PLCs for the school principal.

The district has adopted the Adaptive Schools Model for collaborative engagement and the Cognitive Coaching Model for collaborative problem solving and professional growth. Additionally, classroom teachers engage in high quality literacy, math and social emotional professional learning annually as a school team based on the school improvement plan goals and commitments.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
First and foremost, the Luther team recognizes the importance of making school fun and engaging for the learners. This happens through multi-grade level teams, school events and frequent collaboration with student families.

The school also recognizes and values the contribution every team member makes to the school’s success. Every team member is "all in" to making the school great. Classroom teachers, specialists, related arts teachers,pupil services team members, custodians, paraprofessionals, office support, school principal and district office administration are all maximized for impact on the school culture and focus on the learners.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
The Luther Elementary team has been active in reaching out and engaging the larger Fort Atkinson community. Community events, including a collaboration with the city to provide a Latino outreach event, and multiple Luther family fun nights are provided to create a connection and partnership between the school and the larger community. Movie nights, dances and family conferences offer multiple opportunities for families to be in the school and create powerful relationships with the Luther team.

Luther Elementary is also open to the public in evenings and weekends to host community sports events, craft fairs, and health and wellness classes. These also create a community ownership of the school in our small-town community.

Stats
  • Category 3

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 12,350
    Student Enrollment: 247
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 1%
    White/Caucasian: 68%
    Hispanic: 24%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 2%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 5%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 54%
    % ELL Learners: 19%
    Founded: 2001
  • PRINCIPAL:
    David Geiger
  • CONTACT:
    205 Park Street
    Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
    920-563-7828
    geigerd@fortschools.org