Evansville Elementary Recognized for Closing Achievement Gap

Evansville Elementary School has been named a National Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished School Award winner for the 2019-2020 school year by the Wyoming Department of Education.

The school "significantly closed the achievement gap among student groups in mathematics and reading," according to a memo from Shelley Hamel, the department's chief academic officer.

Albin Elementary School in Laramie County School District No. 2 was also recognized this year.

In order to qualify for the distinction, a school receiving federal funding must meet one of the following criteria:

• Exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years.
• Closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years.
• Excellence in serving special populations of students (homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.)

Albin Elementary was recognized for showing exceptional student performance and academic achievement in mathematics and reading during each of the two most recent school years.

According to the memo, both schools showed a poverty rate of at least 35% based on free and reduced-price lunch counts.

"These two schools represent superior Title I programs, offer focused and innovative professional development opportunities for staff, show strong community involvement, and achieve success with individualized student programs," Hamel said in the memo.

"Moreover, both schools met or exceeded expectations as established by the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years," she concluded.