Video from Mr. Keeton 

Brookwood Elementary Earns a C in New Report Card, Double Digit Increase in Academic Growth

October 18, 2019

As required by the Alabama Act 2012-402 and the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, the Alabama State Department of Education released the new Alabama Unified Report Card for the state, school systems, and schools. The purpose of this reporting system is to provide parents, community members, and other indicators of how a school or school system is performing. While one letter grade does not define a student, school, or system, it is a starting point for discussion.

The grade received reflects several factors, including academic achievement, academic growth, chronic absenteeism, as well as graduation rates and college and career readiness (for high schools). Of course, one grade does not tell the whole story. We hope the grade will add to our community discussion about how to improve the education for each student in our school – regardless of where it falls on the grading scale.        

We are happy to report that Brookwood Elementary increased ten points for the 2018-19 report card receiving a letter grade of a ‘C’, accumulating a total of 76 points.  We are extremely proud of the efforts of our students and staff.  As we celebrate the improvements made, we will continue to focus on areas in need of improvement.  Though we saw significant gains in reading growth we will maintain focus there in addition to mathematics and attendance in an effort to enhance achievement by implementing the following strategies:

• Continually strengthen Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s)
• Concentrate on content standards and learning targets so that each is clearly understood by teachers. It is important that teachers are engaged in collaborative work to analyze student data, unwrap content standards, and assure the appropriate level of rigor is in place.
• Use formative data obtained on a periodic basis that instructional changes may be made as needed. Students who are struggling must be identified early and appropriate interventions applied. Students who are higher achievers need to be challenged and presented with enrichment and extension learning activities.
• Strengthen efforts with parents to assure that students attend school, on time and all day, every day that is possible. Parents are key partners in this effort!
• Provide high quality professional development to enhance teachers’ abilities in instructional strategies and student engagement.

Dr. Davie, Superintendent of the Tuscaloosa County School System, “The progress in this indicator (Academic Growth) shows that students are meeting annual growth targets of performance. Every school in our system, regardless of proficiency scores, showed significant gains in this area. Academic growth is a critical area and the one where the most rapidly improving schools and districts across the nation place their focus.” \

You can find additional information at https://www.tcss.net/domain/6160.