West Fork Public Schools

In the legislative session of 1999, the Arkansas Department of Education received a mandate calling for each school campus to present a narrative informing school patrons of the successes and shortcomings of their public schools.

           Each year has brought with it changes and improvements, which we sincerely believe have improved the quality of the programs that we offer to our students.  The 2002-2003 school year was no exception.

           During the 2002-2003 school year, West Fork Elementary School began its first day of school housed in the new classroom facilities.  The building, which contains 14 classrooms and a massive atrium, has been used to its fullest potential since day one.  The atrium, which was designed to accommodate the entire school body, is utilized for a host of activities, which includes everything from the After School Program to the West Fork Tae Kwon Do Club.

           Academically, West Fork Elementary School is entering the 5^th year of working under the standards legislated by Arkansas Act 999 of 1999.  With the passage of the federal No Child Left Behind Legislation, West Fork Elementary, as is true of every school in the state and nation, is expected to move every child within its care to grade level by the end of his or her 4^th grade year.  The task is an ominous one, but a challenge that we accept and are working very hard towards achieving.

           In Arkansas that achievement is currently measured using two different testing instruments; the Stanford 9 (SAT-) and the Benchmark and End of Course Exams.

           The Stanford-9 Scores for 2002-2003, which are norm-referenced results, for the elementary school grades K-4, are as follows.  The figures represent a combined average for all of the children that participated.

            Be aware that 43% is the bottom of grade level.  50% is average.

           The Primary Benchmark Test, which is a criterion-referenced test for the 4th graders, not only indicated growth, as per the 2002-2003 scores, but made clear the strength of our academic programs.   Below is a representation of those scores both for the “02-03” school year and school years past.  The percentage indicates the percentage of the 4th grade class that reached the proficient or advanced level.

           Five new members were added to the exceptional teaching staff that currently works at West Fork Elementary;  Misty Langston-1^st Grade, Cheryle Boudreaux-Librarian, Dawn Stout-1^st Grade, Tracy Karnes-Kindergarten and Kim Tillman-Title I.  Tracy Karnes and Kim Tillman being the only new positions hired.  Mrs. Karnes was added when the 03-04 Kindergarten class proved to be 20 children larger than past kindergarten classes.  Mrs. Tillman is working in a newly created Title I position with 4^th graders. 

          The overall elementary school population K-4 is 420 children, a small increase over 2002-2003, which vacillated between 405 and 412 students.

          West Fork Elementary School has always been an inviting environment for students and parents.  With the revamped parent center and new parent involvement facilitator position, we hope to make our school and curriculum even more accessible than in the past.  Please, if you have time, feel free to spend some time with us, and share in the success that we have enjoyed and the accomplishments that we look forward to realizing.
 

Thank you,
 

Patrick Thaler

Elementary Principal