The Virginia Department of Education has selected Greendale Elementary School as one of two schools in Virginia to receive the 2024 National ESEA Distinguished Schools Award.
Recognized for exceptional student performance for two consecutive years, Greendale Elementary School made noteworthy gains in reading and science SOL scores, improving by 9 and 14 points respectively in the last year. The school implemented key literacy initiatives, such as targeted reading interventions, an open library, and ongoing professional development for school staff. The school has also focused on data driven instruction such as formative and summative assessments to guide differentiation; explicit teaching with clear demonstrations and guided practice; tailored instruction for personal interventions; and small group instruction and remediation.
"I am so proud of Mr. Michael Colston and all of the educators at Greendale Elementary for their perseverance and the incredible gains their students have made as a result," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. "Their intentional focus on improving literacy outcomes, targeted tutoring in reading and math before and after school, and community engagement and collaboration initiatives have all contributed to creating the culture of success and excellence that embodies the school. Congratulations on this well-deserved and impressive achievement."
Students receiving free lunch make up 88% of Greendale Elementary’s student population.
ESEA is the abbreviation for the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the primary source of federal aid for elementary and secondary education requiring states to establish long-term and interim goals for increasing student achievement in reading and mathematics. ESEA provides funds to all of Virginia’s school divisions for supplemental educational support to eligible schools. The focus of these programs is to raise the achievement level of students at risk of academic failure due to poverty and other factors.
The Distinguished Schools Program, a project of the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators, recognizes federally funded schools from each state for their outstanding achievements in education. Each year, only two schools per state are chosen as National ESEA Distinguished Schools, underscoring the prestigious nature of this honor.