• Category 1

    Selected in 2025

  • Grades: pre k - 12
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 54
    Student Enrollment: 270
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 2%
    White/Caucasian: 70%
    Hispanic: 28%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 45%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1925
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Maggie Pacino
  • CONTACT:
    308 Lincoln Ave
    McClave, CO 81057
    719-829-4517
    maggie.pacino@mcclaveschool.org
McClave Elementary School
McClave, CO
1. What key actions or strategies have been most instrumental to your school’s success?
McClave Elementary School’s success is driven by a strategic integration of data-driven leadership and expanded student support. A pivotal turning point was our work with the Early Literacy Grant, which allowed us to develop Building Leadership Teams and a sophisticated data culture. We now examine student performance by class and cohort over time, using this literacy framework to also strengthen math and other content areas. To ensure these strategies take root, we provide teachers dedicated time within their contract hours to collaborate and analyze data.

Complementing this academic rigor is our CCLC 21st Century Learning Grant. For a district on a four-day week, this grant is vital; it provides tutoring and enrichment led by highly qualified staff before/after school and on Fridays. This supports our working families until 5:00 PM daily, ensuring our students receive consistent, expert guidance in a safe environment that bridges the gap between school and home.
2. What significant challenges did your school face during your improvement efforts, and how did you address them?
McClave Elementary faces the unique challenges of a rural district where families often travel 20–50 miles one way to attend. With school funding cuts, sustaining essential after-school programs was nearly impossible until the CCLC Grant provided a vital lifeline. This funding allows us to compensate our staff for their expertise, directly addressing teacher burnout by ensuring their extra time is paid rather than expected as a volunteer effort.

In a town with limited resources, our program evens the playing field. Many parents struggle to assist with complex subjects in older grades; by providing access to highly qualified tutors, we ensure every child succeeds regardless of their home support level. Because students complete their work during these extended hours, they return home with significantly less homework. This gift of time is transformative for our families, reducing the stress of long commutes and allowing for meaningful family time at night.
3. How did professional development contribute to your school’s improvement efforts?
To honor our teachers as professionals, McClave Elementary prioritizes choice and agency in professional development. In a small school with only one teacher per grade level, needs are rarely one-size-fits-all. We address this by providing $800 annual stipends that teachers can accumulate for up to four years, empowering them to pursue specialized training tailored to their specific classroom goals.

When district-wide PD occurs, we collaborate with staff to ensure the content is directly applicable to their daily work, respecting their time and expertise. As a rural district, we overcome isolation by participating in yearly BOCES trainings and partnering with a neighboring district to share resources and expertise. These collaborations, alongside our choice-based stipend model, ensure our educators remain at the forefront of best practices while feeling valued and supported.
4. In what ways did family and/or community partnerships support your school’s success?
In our small rural community, the school is truly the hub of all activity. Our success is inseparable from the deep-rooted partnerships we maintain with families and local organizations. We foster these bonds through traditions like our Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, where the local bank, the county road and bridge shop, and families join our students. Events like the pancake supper and the staff/student basketball game create a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere that bridges the gap between the classroom and the community.

These connections extend to our Cardinal Crew big buddy program, which links JH/HS students with elementary peers, fostering a sense of belonging across grades. With parents and community members filling the stands for talent shows, concerts, and plays, our school serves as the central gathering place. In a town where everyone is involved, these partnerships ensure our students feel supported by an everyone, making our school a place of pride and achievement.
5. How has ESEA funding (e.g., Title I, II, III) been strategically used to support student achievement?
At McClave Elementary, ESEA funding is not merely a budgetary supplement; it is the engine behind our most critical instructional supports. We strategically utilize Title funds to sustain a dedicated Reading Interventionist position, a role that has become the cornerstone of our academic success for students in grades K–6.

This position goes far beyond traditional "pull-out" services. Our interventionist acts as a data expert and instructional leader, serving as an instrumental member of the Building Leadership Team (BLT). By analyzing student data by class and cohort, she helps us identify specific learning gaps and ensures our instructional pivots are precise and effective.
6. What advice would you give to a school just beginning its improvement journey?
Culture is the foundation of every success. At McClave, our transformation began when our Board and administration established four core values—Excellence, Honesty, Integrity, and Respect. These are not just words on a wall; they are the foundation of every decision we make.

Prioritize finding and supporting high-quality teachers. When you treat staff as professionals and foster genuine relationships between adults and students, you create a safe environment where learning can occur. Students must feel cared for before they can be challenged. Our veteran staff maintains a Standard of Excellence, pushing students to meet high expectations through a culture of mutual accountability.

Finally, acknowledge that this is grueling, intentional work. You cannot sustain the momentum without pause. Our most vital advice is to celebrate your successes. Whether it’s a data breakthrough or a community meal, honor the small wins to fuel the long-term journey.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2025

  • Grades: pre k - 12
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 54
    Student Enrollment: 270
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 2%
    White/Caucasian: 70%
    Hispanic: 28%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 45%
    % ELL Learners: 1%
    Founded: 1925
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Maggie Pacino
  • CONTACT:
    308 Lincoln Ave
    McClave, CO 81057
    719-829-4517
    maggie.pacino@mcclaveschool.org