Take one determined principal, add a devoted staff and faculty, and divide them among 505 eager students and you have a formula for success. The A-rated Washington Shores Elementary School was just named a Florida Title I Distinguished School for the 2009-2010 school year by the state Department of Education. Only eight Title I schools out of 1,801 statewide earned this title.
Washington Shores demonstrated great academic progress with all students. As a school, they saw a 14 percentage point increase in reading and math scores on the FCAT, from the 2008-2009 school year to 2009-2010.
In the all-important measure of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), Washington Shores scored 100 percent. Students in several key groups were recognized as learning at or above their level, by the U.S. Department of Education. Among them were students whose first language is not English and those who needed extra attention due to a disability. When a school proves all its groups of students move ahead academically, the school achieves a perfect AYP score.
Principal Jeraldine Sims said, “My continuity of faculty and staff is a key reason why our students show proven success. I am fortunate to have teachers and staff members who want to make Washington Shores the best it can be. They are dedicated to our students and go above and beyond, daily, to make sure our children learn to the best of their ability.” The school has been rated ‘A’ for the past two years. The state calls Washington Shores an example of educational excellence in Florida.
