Austin Parkway Elementary School
Along with a high level of parental involvement, Austin Parkway Elementary School boasts an excellent academic program designed to meet the needs of every student. One of its premier offerings is Reading Recovery, an international program that identifies first-grade students with reading difficulties and then provides them with 20 weeks of intensive, one-on-one instruction.
Now in its 17th year, Austin Parkway is networked, with Internet access, a computer lab, and computers in every classroom. In addition, all teachers have their own personal Web pages and e-mail links.
Students from this high-performing school, located at Cross Lakes Boulevard and Austin Parkway, routinely score high on the challenging Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAKS) test.
The third-grade test scores are particularly important because third-graders not passing the TAKS reading portion during the spring or summer testing periods will not be promoted to the fourth grade. Also, fifth-graders not passing the TAKS reading and math portions during the spring or summer testing periods will not be promoted to the sixth grade. Scores from the spring 2007 TAKS test are:
- Reading - 98% passing
- Math - 94% passing
- Writing - 97% passing
- Science- 92% passing
Riverstone's Missouri City elementary students attend Austin Parkway.
Additional highlights:
- An Extended Day program is offered before and after school.
- The entire school was recently renovated. The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) raised funds for new landscaping, a sprinkler system and a $25,000 playground and pavilion.
- Austin Parkway enjoys immense community support. The school holds only one fundraising event per year – typically a walk-a-thon with silent and live auction—that raises well over $50,000.
4400 Austin Parkway
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-4001
Commonwealth Elementary School
With students at the heart of every decision, Commonwealth Elementary’s formula of high expectations coupled with a nurturing environment has yielded impressive results for the Fort Bend school.
Commonwealth has regularly earned the state’s coveted exemplary status, based on TAKS test scores far exceeding state and district averages. Ninety-eight percent of students taking the 2007 TAKS test passed the reading exam. Math scores were even higher, with 99 percent of students passing the test. Ninety-seven percent passed the writing portion of the test and 93 percent passed the science portion.
An advanced curriculum aided by state-of-the-art technology helps students succeed. In addition to a gifted and talented program, other initiatives include multi-sensory grammar, fifth-grade/kindergarten book buddies, electronic bookshelf, art-à-la-carte, character education, writer’s workshop, math solutions, mountain math, math problem of the day and more.
Networked computers are in every classroom and an Instructional Technology Specialist provides on-site support and training. Smartboards—interactive whiteboards—are in every fourth- and fifth-grade classroom, along with one in each grade pod, the library and the computer lab. Students in all classrooms keep current through a daily news show produced by fifth-graders who utilize video, music, transitions and chroma key background technology.
Striving always to improve, Commonweath launched a Professional Learning Communities (PLC) program last year. Through this effort, collaborative team members work interdependently to achieve common goals linked under the umbrella of learning. Operating with the core belief that each student can and must learn, four PLC questions guide Commonwealth educators throughout the year:
- What are the essential learning outcomes each student must achieve?
- How will we monitor and ensure each student is learning?
- What will we do to ensure students receive additional time and support for learning when they struggle?
- How will we extend and enrich learning when students have already mastered the intended outcomes?
- Initial training for the PLC program was available through a donation by Commonwealth’s Parent/Teacher Association, an active organization that raises thousands of dollars each year to benefit students.
4909 Commonwealth Boulevard
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-5120
Settlers Way Elementary School
As one of Fort Bend’s oldest elementary schools, Settlers Way has a long history of doing it right.
The school, opened in 1983, is one of a handful of exemplary-rated elementaries in the district. Year after year, students post impressive scores on the state-mandated TAKS test, well above district, area and state peers. For the 2006-2007 school year, scores are:
- Reading, 99% passing
- Math, 97% passing
- Writing, 98% passing
- Science, 90% passing
In addition to a high number of students passing the test, a striking number also did well enough to earn commended status:
- 3rd grade reading: 63% commended
- 3rd grade math: 44% commended
- 4th grade reading: 39% commended
- 4th grade math: 34% commended
- 4th grade writing: 42% commended
- 5th grade reading: 40% commended
- 5th grade math: 56% commended
- 5th grade science: 41% commended
Principal Kristi Durham credits the school’s success to strong teacher instruction and the ability to meet the needs of a diverse student population.
“Our guiding philosophy is that every student can learn,” she said. “We work to provide a motivating, challenging learning environment that meets the needs of all students, regardless of learning style.”
Settlers Way teachers are experts at differentiated instruction, which presents information in a variety of ways for a variety of students – hands-on, auditory and visual learners. Many Settlers Way teachers have made a career-long commitment to the school, which enjoys minimal employee turnover. In fact, two staff members have been at Settlers Way since the school’s inception, with many others working there for more than 15 years.
Embracing its mission of concentrating on the many facets of a child’s development, Settlers Way offers an array of extracurricular activities, including choir for fourth and fifth graders, a chess club and a Bluebonnet after-school reading program for all students. Plus, Settlers Way is the only school in the district to offer a regional day school program for the deaf, serving pre-kindergarten through second-grade students. School staff members also offer free sign language classes for the community.
Strong parent involvement greatly enhances student life at Settlers Way, with PTA fund-raising activities providing for two field trips per grade each year, educational and fine arts assemblies, additional playground equipment and more. Teachers also enjoy PTA support, with each teacher receiving $100 for miscellaneous classroom items and approximately $10,000 of wish list items purchased each year for the classrooms.
3015 Settlers Way Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-4360
