Edgemont Elementary School

The Principal’s Message

Dear Edgemont Parents & Patrons,

Over the past 5 years I have been fortunate to serve as Edgemont’s Principal and I have come to appreciate how truly wonderful Edgemont Elementary is.  We are blessed with wonderful and committed teachers & staff, outstanding students in all areas of development, and highly dedicated, supportive, & caring parents. 

Our student academic achievement is one of the best in the district, despite an ongoing increase in the numbers of at risk factors our students face, as is shown in the following results:

• 1 of only 3 schools district wide to have reached the high goal to have 90% of all students reading at or above grade level (currently at 91%, including students with learning disabilities)
• Language Arts CRT proficiency rates of 86-95% during the past 10+ years (always higher than district averages)
• Math CRT proficiency rates of 83-92% during the past 10+ years (always higher than district averages)
• Standardized Test Scores in the 58th-78th percentile, well above the district, state, and national percentile rates. 

Much of this academic growth and progress is due to our ever expanding research-based tutoring services, our significantly expanded volunteer programs, and our focus on grade level teacher collaboration to better meet the individual learning needs of students.  These initiatives provide both remediation interventions for struggling students and more accelerated opportunities for gifted and advanced learners.

In addition, during the past 5 years we have developed and continue to expand our Before- and After-School Enrichment programs and our Remediation and Enrichment Summer School programs, making Edgemont a true community center throughout the day, into the evening, and into the summer. 

           Edgemont has also significantly improved the technology available to assist teachers and students, including a school-wide wireless internet network, a state of the art stationary computer lab, 3 mobile computer labs with laptops, and 8 new interactive “Smart” Boards in classrooms. 

Edgemont has received multiple grants over the past 3 years worth thousands of dollars that continue to provide many additional and necessary materials, equipment, and student services. 

Finally, we are now putting even more effort toward significantly improving our services to Gifted & Advanced Learners, making Edgemont a district leader in this important area. Ginny Smith, our new Gifted & Talented Coordinator, will return this fall and be released half time from other duties to more fully oversee, coordinate, teach, and lead our expanded class offerings for Accelerated Students in grades K-6.

We are very proud of the growth and progress we are making as a school, and we acknowledge the wonderful community support that helps us make all of this possible.  Like the ‘soaring eagle’ that is our school mascot, we are Soaring to New Heights!  We hope this brief pamphlet will help make you and all of our neighbors be better aware of the great things going on at Edgemont Elementary--a great school, working hard to become even better! 

Thanks for all you do to help and support us!

Sincerely,

Dennis Pratt, Principal

Past Principal Messages