• Category 2

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 50,038
    Student Enrollment: 260
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 62%
    Hispanic: 15%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 1%
    Other: 22%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
    % Reduced Lunch: 54.6%
    % ELL Learners: 3%
    Founded: 1952
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Chris Carruth-Britt
  • CONTACT:
    639 Payne Avenue
    Casper, WY 82609
    307-253-6000
    chris_carruth-britt@natronaschools.org
Pineview Elementary School
Casper, WY
"When we value the individual child, the group grows. When we value growth, achievement is raised. When we celebrate, we inspire others!"
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Pineview Elementary's goals, growth, and achievements are the result of systems, work processes, and behaviors in our school that are perfectly aligned with the outcomes we’ve expected and are currently obtaining.
When people walk into our school and classrooms, they see a highly qualified, culturally responsive staff. These staff members include general education teachers, special education teachers, functional life skills special education teachers, tutors who support EL, Title I tutors, district tutors, a school instructional facilitator, the principal, and support staff working daily in grades K-5. Our supporting data shows
achievement proficiency levels increased in all three grade levels from 22-23 to 23-24. The 23-24 5th-grade group improved to 73.1% proficient from 48.10% proficient the previous year. The 23-24 4th-grade group improved to 51.90% proficient from 40.8% proficient the previous year. 3rd grade improved to 49.10% proficient from 40.8% the previous year.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
Pineview’s most effective strategy is using the Tier I curriculum provided inclusively in the general education setting. Tier II is taught in small groups by the same educators in the same setting again, using Tier I grade-level content. Tier III is taught to 1-3 students in general education using only Tier I grade-level content by the same educators as in TI and TII.
Our intervention times and strategies within the MTSS framework ensure all students are flooded with evidence-based Tier I high-quality instruction. Tier I instruction includes all developmental domains, such as behavioral and social development in content areas of math, reading, and writing. Data shows a 5th-grade overall mean growth percentile of 72.5 (82.8 in Math, 62.0 in ELA). 4th-grade math mean growth percentile of 52.3. All growth is 9.8 points above the state average for all grades. Math growth is 18.1 points above the state average. 5th-grade math is 32.4 points above the state average.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
Pineview staff are trained in the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) by trainer Lisa Brown, Casper, Wyoming, utilizing ESEA funding. This ongoing approach recasts the child who constantly breaks the rules, pushes boundaries, and seems impossible to corral–the kid who can upend the most experienced teacher’s classroom singlehandedly–not as oppositional or challenging, nor the positive terms like spirited, sensitive, or energetic–but as intense. We create positive experiences of self in real-life contexts, where the child feels profoundly seen and predictably celebrated for who they are and for the many things they are doing right or not doing wrong. Staff understand the difference between traditional discipline and the NHA approach.
Scores are reflected in 4th-grade science achievement rates from 29.2% in 22-23 to 44.20% in 23-24. Free/Reduced Math proficiency scores in 4th grade went from 3.3% in 21-22 to 41.4% in 23-24. 5th grade went from 15.4% in 21-22 to 69.0% proficient in 23-24.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Pineview uses ESEA funding for professional development (PD) to enhance student outcomes. Social and behavioral PD began with Dr. Christi Kasa from the University of Colorado, focusing on inclusivity and communication strategies for students with disabilities. Staff also attend TEACCH Autism Program training, which emphasizes autism learning styles, visual supports, and promoting independence. At The Ron Clark Academy in Georgia, Pineview staff gain tools to foster academic excellence, build relationships, and create a thriving school culture. Pineview staff participate in the Model Schools Conference and the Innovative Schools Summit, gaining actionable strategies to sustain student success and culture. These efforts are reflected in the school’s equity mean growth percentile of 58, just two points below the target.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
When we value the individual child, the group grows. When we value growth, achievement is raised. When we celebrate, we inspire others! Like most schools, we analyze data and make necessary changes weekly. Our data shows shifting to inclusive schooling and recognizing students for what they can do together has improved our achievement and growth. Resources and staff follow students into the general education classroom. Staff provide co-teaching in all subjects. This gives every student the benefit of specialized instruction on grade level.
Another cultural shift is encouraging students to go above and beyond demonstrating compassion and empathy. We celebrate our hard work and accomplishments by holding a large whole-school celebration every quarter. We go big! We transform our school into a magical theme celebration. This builds lasting memories and demonstrates our love for our kids and our teaching and learning. Our kids go above and beyond because WE model going above and beyond.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Pineview partners with White’s Mountain Subaru & Adopt a Classroom (AAC) Community Project in Casper, Wyoming. Each year, the principal chooses teachers at Pineview who uphold high expectations academically and behaviorally, build relationships with each child in their classroom, never let their students give up, teach they can all do hard things, set goals for achievement and growth, and work to achieve those goals at exceeding levels.
We also partner with Zak Pullen and Casey Rizlov, author and illustrator of Wyoming-centered informational and literature books. Zak and Casey have been working with staff and students through Literature Days and Family Nights and have brought development and mastery to student writers through their writings and illustrations. They work with Pineview students to bring light to new ideas in support of preserving Wyoming’s history. Working with our community to celebrate Pineview teachers has been rewarding for community partners, staff, and students.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 50,038
    Student Enrollment: 260
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 62%
    Hispanic: 15%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 1%
    Other: 22%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
    % Reduced Lunch: 54.6%
    % ELL Learners: 3%
    Founded: 1952
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Chris Carruth-Britt
  • CONTACT:
    639 Payne Avenue
    Casper, WY 82609
    307-253-6000
    chris_carruth-britt@natronaschools.org