George H. Oliver Elementary School
871 Ritchie Avenue
Clarksdale, Ms. 38614
662.627.8605
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Shawneequa Beal, Principal
Executive Summary
Description
George H. Oliver Elementary School (GHO) is located in Clarksdale, Mississippi, which is in the heart of the Mississippi Delta region. GHO is located in the Brickyard neighborhood, an area of the city plagued by violence and crime. GHO inherits all of the social ills associated with these tumultuous community environments. GHO is one of the Clarksdale Municipal School District’s four (4) elementary magnet schools serving students in grades Pre-K-4. Currently, GHO serves approximately 350 students, which represents an enrollment increase due to the closure of one of the district’s elementary schools in 2016. Students from the closed elementary school were divided among the 4 remaining schools. Almost all of students at GHO come from low-income families. 100% of the students at GHO receive free meals through the district's participation in the Community Eligibility Provision Program. Approximately 99% of the student population is Black.
The staff is comprised of approximately 25 employees, consisting of 1 Administrator; 1 Secretary; 1 Part-time Counselor who comes 2 times a week; 11 full-time certified staff members, 1 Certified Interventionist, 1 pre-K teacher, 1 part-time music teacher, 1 part-time PE teacher, 1 part-time librarian; and 9 non-certified staff members.
Staff turnover at GHO has been a tremendous challenge. This year is the first time in five years the school has had the same principal for more than a year. Approximately 50% of the current teachers have less than 4 years of teaching experience. More than half of the teachers hold an emergency or provisional license
Clarksdale has suffered from an economic decline over the past years. The economy has historically been based upon agriculture and some low-skilled manufacturing. However, many of these businesses have closed or relocated, leaving many residents without jobs. Consequently, many residents have relocated to other areas, causing a decline in student enrollment districtwide.
Poverty is widespread in the Clarksdale community, with many residents living below the poverty level. The median income hovers around $20,000 a year. According to the most recent Census data, more than 40% of residents in Clarksdale and 37% of the residents in Coahoma County live below the poverty level, compared to 21.6% statewide.
100% of the students in the district receive free meals through the district's participation in the Community Eligibility Provision Program.
Purpose
The mission of George H. Oliver Elementary School is through collaboration and continuous learning, George H. Oliver Elementary School will be a place of excellence where all students are engaged in high-quality real-world learning. A professional and highly motivated staff, in partnership with parents will encourage children to achieve their full potential and become responsible citizens who are lifelong learners. The vision of George H. Oliver Elementary School is to strive to guarantee each child a superior education through high quality integrated learning experiences.
Students are screened at the beginning of the school year with IReady to determine interventions and course of instruction. Students are monitored for academic gains as well as data talks between administration and teachers, teachers and students. In the pass teachers have taken students on field trips to the pumpkin patch, the riverboat parks, and the Bologna Performing Arts Center. The school has also participated in a partnership with Kennedy Center to provide arts related education.
Grade levels collaborate on student expectations and look at student achievement gaps of those entering each grade with the goal of decreasing academic achievement gaps. The administration communicates with all stakeholders through School Status, SAMS, school web site, social media, emails, newsletters, and flyers. We have many opportunities for student engagement and volunteers. Students use Apple Ipads for IReady reading and math. Every student and teacher have access to Ipads and Macbooks. Teachers have ClearTouch boards and Apple TV in their classrooms.
School/Family events are planned throughout the school year. We have a Fall Literacy Festival that focus on literacy in all grade levels. GHO has won the school engagement award for several months throughout the school year. The students participate in the school spelling bee in order to qualify for the district spelling bee. Activities are a way that we can get information out to parents about academics, attendance, and testing. The school has hosted information nights for each grade level to keep parents informed of things dealing with education.
Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement
George H. Oliver has collaborated with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc to give coats to students each winter. We have also raised money to provide uniforms to students who were without uniforms through our coronation ball fundraiser. Another project organized by teachers in the fall, where students bring food items and supplies, with the purpose of making Thanksgiving baskets for needy families. We have also collaborated with several families to provide each student a present for Christmas.
George H. Oliver was a 191 on the accountability model in 2017-2018. GHO manage to about 87 point to raise its accountability score to a 278. The school was no longer in F status, we are currently a D. We were congratulated by the state superintendent of education for increasing the scores. We are very proud of our students and teachers for this accomplishment. George H. Oliver was on the way to becoming a successful school before the pandemic hit. Our third benchmark indicated we were close to a B.
