Urban school districts are often featured in negative news articles focusing on the need for improved test scores and graduation rates. But zip code doesn't need to be an indicator of student success. Across the country urban school districts are transforming, moving to student-centered models, personalized learning, project-based learning and more in order to improve student achievement, engagement and college and career readiness. We have successfully supported countless urban districts in changing teaching and learning.
As the 15th largest district in the country, Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) was faced with keeping up with the demands of a rapidly growing population. WCPSS worked with Education Elements to design a new “personalized learning school” from the ground up, with a fresh approach to traditional structures and processes along the way.
Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut knew that the primary roadblock to their students’ success was a high poverty rate and large opportunity gap. The district worked with Education Elements to introduce blended learning into their high schools, which provide targeted career preparation and opportunities and focused on professional development for teachers.
Syracuse wanted to improve student achievement and engagement along with supporting social-emotional learning. Education Elements helped them to align their initiatives, anchor on personalized learning and create classrooms where students have all of the support they need to succeed.
Racine Unified School District was experiencing declining enrollment, especially at the middle school level, due to economic conditions and state policies which allow students to transfer in and out of districts. Education Elements worked with the five middle schools to turn them into places where are confident their students are at central to the learning environment
Warren knew they were not getting a return on investment from their technology. Education Elements helped them to reset and focus on their vision of personalized learning to then leverage their devices.
Although small for a city district, the majority of students come from poverty and Middletown wanted to close the achievement gap between white and minority students, as well as lower their dropout rate. Education Elements started working with them in 2013 and over four years we have transformed the district together.
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