Partnership Zone School Profile: Stubbs Elementary

Partnership Zone School Profile: Stubbs Elementary

Stubbs Elementary School, the only elementary school selected for the Partnership Zone, sits in the East Side neighborhood of Wilmington and serves students in grades K-5.  During the 2009-2010 school year, Stubbs enrolled 312 students that are predominately low-income and African-American.  Christina School District recently brought in Dr. Kalia Reynolds from West Park Place Elementary, a high-performing campus in Newark DE, to help lead the struggling school.

Based upon 2010 DSTP scores, Stubbs Elementary School students:
• Demonstrated the lowest proficiency averages statewide on both the ELA and mathematics portions of DSTP compared to other elementary schools;
• Declined at a faster rate on ELA and mathematics DSTP assessments compared to their state peers over the past three years; and
• Scored worse on DSTP compared to schools that serve similar students from the same neighborhood (Pulaski and Bancroft Elementary Schools).

Stubbs Elementary failed to make AYP for three consecutive years (all three it has been an elementary school) and is currently under Academic Watch by the Delaware Department of Education.  

As part of the Partnership Zone, Stubbs Elementary has an unprecedented opportunity to make drastic change in order to provide students access to the excellent education they deserve.  While all current staff, students, parents, and other community members undoubtedly possess apprehension and nervousness about the forthcoming Partnership Zone process, what is unequivocally clear is that the status quo is untenable.  These students clearly deserve better, and it is up to all stakeholders to come together and build a school that better serves their needs.  We can think of no better way to start than to attend the Christina School Board Meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 7:30 p.m. at Bayard Middle School.

This blog is the first part of a four part series detailing the four schools that have been chosen for the Partnership Zone Initiative.