On Dec. 18, video crews from the U.S. Department of Education spent a day documenting the school and interviewing the staff.
The K-5 school was chosen as a "success story" for the department's nationwide television show "Education News," after it received the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award for Educational Excellence in September 2006. It was one of 250 public and private schools to receive the award and was the only Seattle school.
When the program airs, Maple Elementary principal Pat Hunter will travel to Washington D.C. on Jan. 15 for the broadcast.
"It's quite an honor representing a wonderful job by the students, parents and staff. I'm just the conduit. It's a great place to be," said Hunter.
A list called "Nine characteristics of high performing schools," is posted in Hunter's office and offers an insight into Maple Elementary's achievement level.
The characteristics include: a clear and shared focus; high standards and expectations; effective school leadership; collaboration and communication; having materials, instruction and assessment aligned with students; frequent monitoring of learning and teaching; focused professional development; a supportive learning environment; and high levels of family and community involvement.
The No Kids Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award for Educational Excellence winners meet three criteria.
Schools like Maple must have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have dramatically improved performance in state tests.
Schools in the top 10 percent of state test scores regardless of background and private schools in the top 10 percent of nationwide tests meet the other two criteria.
Maple is also the winner of a Boeing John D. Warner $25,000 award for academic achievement.
This year, 73.1 percent of the third-grade students met the Washington state standards in reading and math. In both areas, in addition to writing, 93 percent of fourth-graders met state standards in reading, followed by 77.5 percent in writing and 74.6 percent in math. The schools fifth-graders had similar performances.
Maple Elementary's high test scores are the result of emphasizing reading, starting in preschool. The preschool at Maple is privately run by the Community Day School Association.
"Writing is the first step in reading. It is something that is part of our culture. Writing is the foundation for the program," said Hunter.
The school's Maple Creed is "I know that our country was built by people of all races, and I know that people of all races keep our country great."
Maple, like other south end schools, has a diverse student population. Thirty percent of the students can speak more than one language. Many children are bilingual in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Spanish and Tagalog. The school is 60 percent Asian, 17 percent Latino and 13 percent African American, along with a growing Somali population.
In all, Hunter says there are 16-17 languages spoken.
"Our staff speaks many languages also. We have representatives from so many cultures and languages, that is why we are lucky," said Hunter.
Technology is one key to learning at Maple Elementary. Ceiling projectors are used to show lessons on screens or to conduct Internet lessons. The school is doing a pilot project with fourth and fifth graders provided with 21 wireless laptop computers.
There are no walls to divide the classrooms. The grade levels are grouped together in open classes, separated only by bookshelves.
Maple has three all day kindergarten classes. There is a behavioral intervention program for emotionally and behaviorally challenged students. Before and after-school child care is available.
Hunter's and her husband live in the Hillman City neighborhood of southeast Seattle.
The couple raised three children in south Seattle schools. One became a lawyer in New York, another is an electrical engineer and the youngest is in law school at Seattle University.
Hunter was the recipient of the 2006 Terrel H. Bell Award and 2006 Seattle Region Distinguished Principal award.
"I enjoy diversity. Life is more interesting in that way. It is our strength and joy," said Hunter.
Dean Wong may be reached via editor@sdistrictjournal.com.
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