According to the Florida Standards Assessment test for 2016, there are 11 elementary schools in Escambia County that were graded a D or F.
These schools predominantly serve children who come from low-income neighborhoods, which means they and their families face the challenges that poverty can put in the way of their academic progress.
We spent time with the principals and staffs of each of these schools to find out what their challenges are, what they love about their schools and what strategies they will use to help improve their students academic achievement.
In this report
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Little girl in a classroom
Montclair Elementary looking inside and out to get back on top
by Reggie Dogan
First-year Principal Hollie Wilkins believes that her students and staff can again rise to top as a high-performing A school in Escambia County.
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Two children sitting in a classroom
West Pensacola helping students get the resources they need
by Reggie Dogan
Helping students get the resources they need to overcome the socio-economic challenges they face is the key to increasing test scores and improving academic achievement at West Pensacola Elementary School.
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Children in a classroom building a tent
Building relationships for school improvement at Oakcrest
by Reggie Dogan
Getting new students to meet academic standards, adjusting to new tests and developing new teachers are a few of the challenges Oakcrest Elementary School faces to pass muster on statewide assessments.
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Teacher talking to students in classroom
Ensley Elementary builds on sense of family
by Shannon Nickinson
Boosting basic reading and math skills will be at the heart of the plan to improve Ensley's showing on state standardized tests.
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Student using a laptop
Lincoln Park always working to refine chemistry with staff, community
by Shannon Nickinson
Staff works to harness each others strengths to make staff development, joint planning, parent involvement all work together to benefit the students.
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Judy LaBounty sitting at a table
Global Learning Academy on a destination to success
by Reggie Dogan
Global Learning Academy strives to overcome the challenges of poverty on the journey to raise student proficiency and academic success.
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Man and woman sitting at a table talking
Sherwood staff brings everyone to table to help students
by Shannon Nickinson
Targeted interventions in reading, focused parent outreach — including home visits — and training for teachers are part of Principal Larry Knight's plan for improvement at Sherwood Elementary School.
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Dave Schmittou
Warrington working to bridge gap between school, community
by Shannon Nickinson
Second year principal says building a strong culture, targeted reading interventions, focusing on growth are watch words for this school year.
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Trophy case
Holm accepts the challenge of students with special needs
by Reggie Dogan
The principal at Reinhardt Holm Elementary School believes that the key to success is changing the mindset of both students and teachers.
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Teacher talking to students in classroom
Weis working to change community from the roots
by Shannon Nickinson
With a focus on families, early learning the community of teachers at C.A. Weis Elementary School are working to improve student performance from even the earliest ages.
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Preschool artwork
Putting poverty on Escambia's map
by Shannon Nickinson
Mapping the elementary schools that were graded lowest on the Florida Standards Assessment reinforces the tie between poverty, education.
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Two women standing at a car in a parking lot
Can a washer and dryer boost attendance?
by Shannon Nickinson
At schools such as Ensley Elementary, staff look from all kinds of ways to boost parent engagement and student attendance — as some districts did last year with donated laundry machines.
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Variety of books lying on a table
Closing Escambia's achievement gap can pay great dividends
by Shannon Nickinson
Finding a way for Escambia schools to help close the
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Kindergarten math worksheet
How far did Escambia kindergartners come in a year?
by Shannon Nickinson
In one year, Escambia County's kindergartners make remarkable progress thanks to their teachers. To get more of them where they need to be, the community needs to pitch in.
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