
Principal Jason Shipman thinks his school has an extra ingredient that sets it apart from the rest. His staff at Florence Drake Elementary School in Sparks, Nevada, is building strong relationships that have helped them address what students and their families need to succeed. About 20% of Drake’s students are English learners and about 30% have an Individualized Education Program to receive special education. Nearly all students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Proficiency rates have met and even exceeded the district’s overall proficiency rate for English Language Arts, math and science for the past two school years as well as the state’s annual targets for all schools’ performance, and has earned national recognition for excellence in serving special populations of students (homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.).
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