• Category 1

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: k - 8
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 213
    Student Enrollment: 136
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 68.8%
    Hispanic: 31.2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 10.9%
    Founded: 1907
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Joe West
  • CONTACT:
    51409 Prior Ave
    Paterson, WA 99345
    509-875-2601
    joewe@patersonschool.org
Paterson Elementary School
Paterson, WA
"Our students accept the challenges before them and work extremely hard to grow and learn."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Paterson School District is a small rural school dedicated to student success and development as a whole child. As a small school we are able to form strong personal relationships with our families, students and community. These relationships, along with our intentional focus on academic standards, allows for our students to grow and exhibit exceptional performance on a variety of measures. Our students get a blended educational experience; mixing project based learning with traditional teaching and learning and weaving in community, social and emotional elements throughout their years with us. Our process has really allowed students to grow and develop as learners and critical thinkers.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
Since coming to Paterson School District I have observed a dedicated staff, student body and families. The combination of these three components have led to the success of each and every child at our school. The staff's values and beliefs allow them to put in the endless hours it takes to plan, implement, reflect and refine instruction to meet every child's needs. Our families are committed to our school's mission and vision. They are supportive of the rigorous expectations and are constantly contributing through events at the school, PTO or volunteering. Our students accept the challenges before them and work extremely hard to grow and learn.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
As a small rural school we need to be flexible with our expenditures to meet the diverse needs of our students. All funding is flexible and adapted to meet the specific learning targets our kids have; providing them a blending learning model between the traditional learning models held in schools and a project based learning approach. This is done through a schoolwide approach focusing on the needs presented by our data. ESEA funding has been essential in supporting the school staff and professional development needed to continue to provide rigorous instruction and learning opportunities for our students.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
We have provided numerous professional learning opportunities. We have implemented PLCs, we have sent staff to an "Elevate" training, contracted to have some UDL professional learning presented, and have supported our special education staff with professional learning around inclusion, UDL, goals, data, etc.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Our school culture has always been focused on hard work, determination and perseverance for both staff and students. This culture has allowed for staff to deliver teaching and learning at high levels and for students to thrive academically in both work and their studies. This year we have continued to push this, but are adding layers to support with the climate of our building. This is being done through student leadership and student and family surveys. The goal is to get collective commitment from all stakeholders and continue to build a thriving building focused on the development of the whole child. Also, our staff, being singletons, have typically worked in isolation. However, since the implementation of PLCs our culture and support for one another has increased significantly.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
We are a small rural school and community that relies on each other. The outreach and support from local businesses help bring opportunities and resources to our kids. From chips for lunch to letters to Santa, and from community clean up to local volunteers our community looks at ways to invest in our school and kids. Also, our PTO is very active; bringing in opportunities and sending our students to outside events for experiences they would not otherwise get.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2024

  • Grades: k - 8
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 213
    Student Enrollment: 136
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 68.8%
    Hispanic: 31.2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 10.9%
    Founded: 1907
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Joe West
  • CONTACT:
    51409 Prior Ave
    Paterson, WA 99345
    509-875-2601
    joewe@patersonschool.org