Elementary School Reconfiguration Exploration

Poughkeepsie City School District

A restructuring of the Elementary School Buildings

To translate this page when in Chrome, click the three dots on the top right corner, select translate, and choose your language.

Para traducir esta página cuando esté en Chrome, haga clic en los tres puntos en la esquina superior derecha, seleccione traducir y elija su idioma.

GOAL

To target and build student academic, social, and emotional success through a realignment of elementary school grade configurations.

DISTRICT MISSION

“We are champions of children who inspire and nurture the whole child by providing innovative, high-quality educational opportunities that prepare all students to embark on individual paths of success in a globally diverse community.”

5 Reasons for Reconfiguration:

Responding to Family Needs & Concerns

Increasing Academic Achievement

Enhancing Student Social-Emotional Development

Building Stronger School Relationships

Changing Community Dynamics

Responding to Family Needs & Concerns

- Breakage of location for District's earliest learners - In the current configuration, students transition schools multiple times at the youngest years - between PreK and K, and between K and 1. Transitioning schools at this age makes transititioning into school more challenging for students and families to prepare for the next grade level, monitor student progress, and familiarize themselves with school environments, culture, and expectations.
- Distance from home - With the new reconfiguration, there will be two locations for kindergarten students (rather than 1). The new attendance zones and the proposed establishment of child safety zones will enable the district to receive state aid for transportation, enabling more students to be bussed to school.

Increasing Academic Achievement

- Focusing on developmental needs of specific grade bands PreK-2 and 3-5...
  - Increases & Improves Child Cognitive Development
  - Increases & Improves Child Social Emotional Development
  - Increases & Improves Critical Thinking and Learning Styles
  - Increase students’ reading proficiency by 3rd grade
  - Increase high school graduation and post-secondary education
  - Prepares students to become lifelong learners
  - Reduced class sizes, particularly at primary buildings
- Targeted professional learning
- Developmentally appropriate curricular resources
- Grade-band specific instructional targets

Enhancing Student Social-Emotional Development

- Greater focus on age and grade appropriate multi-tiered support systems
- Aid in the building of developmentally appropriate Social-Emotional Skills at each school:
  - Grade/age-specific programs, resources, and training
  - Establish and maintain positive relationships\

Establish strong school community and identity

Building Stronger School Relationships

Living close to a school means students can walk or ride to school
Reducing transitions at the primary level makes for stronger bonds with teachers, classmates, and administrators
Common language and practices across primary and elementary level buildings for consistent expectations among school community members
Greater Opportunities for Parental Engagement

Changing Community Dynamics

Future Housing Developments may yield higher enrollments
Safety - Altering school zones to reduce the number of walking students who need to cross the arterial, providing bussing for youngest students