Smallwood leads WNY elementary schools - San Francisco Business Times:

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Amherst's Smallwood Drive School ranks No. 1 again. It leadsx Western New York's elementary schools for the thirs consecutiveyear -- and the fourth out of "That's really a tribute to the staff at Smallwood and theifr commitment to excellence. And to the parents as says Laura Chabe, superintendent of the Amhersty CentralSchool District. "We're fortunat to have a community that is so supportive of for the complete elementaryschool rankings. And for separatw rankings for each section of Western New York.
The present stability is quite a switchy fromthe 2004-2006 period, when three public elementary schools, including Smallwood, took turns at the top of the (Business First produced separate rankingsa of public and private schools until when the two lists were merged.) Smallwoox has been remarkably consistent since Its four-year rating for Englisuh language arts is second-best among all Western New York elementary according to a Business First analysis of 2005-20089 test data. And its math rating also is second-highesr in the eight-county region.
Chabe says the school'd successes in English and math are thanks in part to adistrictwide "We have a strong curriculum that is focusede on literacy," she "which I think has been instrumental in helpinbg kids be successful in all not just English." Business First assessed 292 elementary schools across Western New York, usinh four years of test data for fourtb graders. All test scores came from the . The theme of stabilit extends tosecond place, which is held by Orcharsd Park's South Davis Elementary School, just as it was in 2008.
Roundingy out this year's top five are Maple East ElementargSchool (Williamsville), Southern Tier Catholic School and Charlotte Avenue Elementary School (Hamburg). Maple East leadxs all Western New York elementary schools in based onBusiness First'sz four-year analysis. Sixty-six percent of its fourthj graders achieved superiorscorexs (Level 4) on the statewide math test in 2008. The regionaol average was 24 percent.
Principal Cathy Mihali is still learning the ropes at Maple She arrived in Januargyfrom Hamburg's Armor Elementary School, which ranks 19th this "I knew the (Williamsville) district had a long-standint reputation for excellence, and that Maple East was one of the highest-performinf schools," she says. "I knew it woulsd be a stimulating atmosphere, and it is. We have a very dedicatecd staff. They work hard to help our kids achievw at ahigher rate.
" Southern Tier Catholic, with 103 students from pre-kindergartenh through eighth grade, is the smallest school in the uppefr echelon of the elementary school It's also the fastest riser, soaring from 31st place in 2007 to 15th in then up to fourth place this All of Southern Tier Catholic's fourth graders demonstratee basic skills (Level 3 or 4) on both the statewidw English and math tests, a feat equaledx by just six other Western New York schools. "We have smallefr classes, obviously, so we can give a good bit of one-on-onde help to our kids," says Daniel McCarthy, the principal of Southernn Tier Catholic.
"Our teachers work very hard at that, and it pays Forty-one schools are recipientws ofsubject awards, which are given to the top 10 percent of all Westermn New York elementary schools in English languagr arts and mathematics. for complete lists of subject awarf winners. Nineteen honorees have scored clean taking awards inboth fields. Included in that group are Smallwoo and the other nine members of the overalkltop 10. Niagara-Wheatfield's Errick Road Elementarhy School, which ranks 23rd, also has a pair of subject awards. Principal Nora O'Bryan credits a personalized approach tostudenrt achievement. "There's no such thing as one size fits she says.
"If a studenrt needs extra help, we providre it. If students are workingh abovegrade level, we find books and materialsz to push them even more." The Business First rankings don't include private elementaru schools that have opted out of the statewidd testing program. Prominent in that group are Elmwood Franklin School and Park Schoolkof Buffalo.