• Category 1

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: pre k - 3
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 16,991
    Student Enrollment: 424
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 17%
    White/Caucasian: 72.6%
    Hispanic: 5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
    Asian: 5%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:9
    % Reduced Lunch: 56.8%
    % ELL Learners: 5%
    Founded: 1963
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Sarah Sanzin
  • CONTACT:
    111 Quarles Street
    Long Beach, MS 39560
    228-864-3946
    sarah.sanzin@lbsdk12.com
W.J. Quarles Elementary School
Long Beach, MS
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and, most of all, loving what you are doing or learning to do.” -Pele.
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all love what you are doing or learning to do.”-Pele. W. J. Quarles Elementary School’s success begins with the love our teachers and staff have for our students. The school has committed to ensuring our students feel loved, valued, safe, and successful.
As a result, our data has soared! Quarles’s 2024 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) data indicated 3rd grade proficiency levels of 79.78% in Reading and 80.9% in Math. Tremendous gains compared to the 2022 data, 51.6% in Reading and 62.3% in Math.
Each year, our Kindergarten and PreK students participate in a Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. In 2022, 65.2% of our Kindergarten students scored Probable Reader. In the Spring of 2024, the percentage grew to 80% of our students scoring Probable Reader. Our district was ranked #1 in the state of Mississippi and our school was #3.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
Over the past 2 years, we have focused on two key factors that have positively impacted change at Quarles. Developing a positive school culture and utilizing data to drive instruction.
Please see question 5 for culture impact.
The leadership team uses data including state and school benchmark assessments, attendance, discipline, and needs assessments to develop a yearly strategic plan that aligns with the district’s long term plan. The school reviews and reflects on the plan three times a year. Instructional staff utilizes the plan to develop their own goals. Additionally, the leadership team meets with each teacher every 6 weeks to discuss individual student data and progress. Teacher teams use major assessments data to determine instructional paths, drive remediation and to assess student mastery.
This continual review of data and the shift in culture has directly impacted student growth and achievement.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
A great contribution to the success of our students are our ESEA funded staff. Currently, Title I funds 2 interventionist and 1 tutor. These teachers serve our students who are in the MTSS process and/or students who are scoring in the bottom 25% on benchmarks. A portion of our funds are utilized for parent involvement. Families are a key component in the success of our students. We encourage reading at home with “Take Home Bags” filled with books and activities. Our Literacy, Math, and Science Nights open the doors for our families to engage in academic activities in the classroom. For example, this year, our Math Night will focus on measurement standards. The students and families will be utilizing a variety of tools to measure sea topics. Each student will receive a sea themed book to take home. Our Art Department connects literacy and art. The students create art projects throughout the year. Then we host a family Art Night—one of our biggest family events each year.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
In 2023-2024, our instructional staff participated in book clubs. Based on teacher need, staff was placed in groups that focused on classroom management, student engagement, differentiation, or basic best practices. Staff met weekly and completed a group journal utilizing sharing strategies. Our school participated in Access for All professional development which refreshed our adaptation practices. This year, our professional development focus is refining our Common Planning practices. Analyzing data and assessments, utilizing the data to drive instruction, and collaborating to provide student centered instruction. Our staff has had in depth training on Mastery Connect and iReady, both online assessments to assist with monitoring progress and provide data for instructional use.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
The greatest contributing factor in promoting change in our school was transforming our school’s climate and culture. The school experienced an administrative turnover for four consecutive years. Four different principals in four years! In 2022-2023, the primary focus was to establish a positive climate by developing relationships and celebrating staff and students. Quarles loves to celebrate our students and staff! Positive Office Referrals, Cubs of the Week riding scooters, Monthly Google Meet celebrations announcing students, teacher, and staff of the month, and the Lighthouse Award are a few ways we recognize our school community! Additionally, we have a yearly school theme that drives events throughout the year. The staff and students vote for the next year’s theme at the end of each year. The current theme is Under the Sea with a slogan of “At W.J. Quarles, we explore, dream, discover.” The staff and students vote for the next year’s theme at the end of each year.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
In the 2022-2023 school year, we established a Community Involvement Committee. Their sole focus is to collaborate and communicate with the local community and to incorporate the community within the school environment. We have conducted school service projects. For example, food drives, nursing home Christmas caroling, and Humane Society fundraisers. The school has organized a Bike Bus event. Local community members and the Police Department created a bike route where the staff and community ride the route in the mornings “picking up” students on bikes to ride to school together. We have welcomed the fire department for Fire Prevention Week, community members to read during Literacy Night, local zoos for presentations, and students from the Long Beach High School to teach a reading boost program called Mission Acceleration. We have partnered with The Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport. We have been awarded a STAR Military School.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: pre k - 3
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 16,991
    Student Enrollment: 424
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 17%
    White/Caucasian: 72.6%
    Hispanic: 5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%
    Asian: 5%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:9
    % Reduced Lunch: 56.8%
    % ELL Learners: 5%
    Founded: 1963
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Sarah Sanzin
  • CONTACT:
    111 Quarles Street
    Long Beach, MS 39560
    228-864-3946
    sarah.sanzin@lbsdk12.com