In Wright School’s Kick-Off Year

School opened: 265 K-5 students and 32 staff

Student mix reflected district demographics

Math mattered: 97% of 3rd graders met state math standards

Arts and technology raised student achievement

Families volunteered: 152 for 46 openings in Fall, 2005 District 428 resources were the same as other buildings

Successes happened: other schools are sharing new practices

Exceeding Expectations

Paul T. Wright Elementary School
2005 Annual Report

Welcome to Wright Elementary School!

Experts from across the country tell us that Wright School is an exemplary model of a school-university partnership. We can tell you that partnerships are a lot of work. Both District 428 and NIU have worked diligently since we began planning in September, 2003 to ensure amicable relationships, share talent and creativity, and stay focused on raising the quality of education across the district – starting at Wright. We are proud to share with you this first annual report. We think you’ll agree that Wright has made an impressive start on ambitious goals.

Dr. Anne Kaplan
Vice-President, Administration and University Outreach

Dr. Paul Beilfuss
Superintendent, District 428

Students made progress toward the goal of 100% meeting standards in nine areas.

  • 88% of students met standards on state tests, second highest in the district.
  • 97% of 3rd graders met standards on the state mathematics test.
  • 96% of kindergartners are on track for success in first grade.
  • Baseline data collection in 2004-5 will help track progress in meeting standards.

Faculty and staff learned new ways to teach.

  • Faculty and staff worked together in summer training sessions in DeKalb in 2004 and at Yale in 2005 to learn innovative ways to teach their students.
  • An NIU faculty member helped classroom teachers integrate technology into instruction, and a District 428 art specialist assisted them in integrating fine arts into language arts instruction.
  • Baseline data will help to track teachers’ technology skills and progress in integrating fine arts, technology, and individualized instruction.

NIU’s teacher education students worked in Wright classrooms.

  • 32 NIU students spent mornings with Wright teachers and students, took education courses at Wright in the afternoon, and often stayed after school
    to assist with activities.
  • NIU faculty fine-tuned teacher preparation in literacy and classroom technology.

Other District 428 schools are sharing new practices that succeeded at Wright.

  • Integration of technology across the curriculum began at Malta Elementary.
  • Speech and language help for at-risk kindergarteners was expanded to Littlejohn and Malta.