Six Pittsburgh Public Schools were recognized last week as STAR Schools for ranking among the top 25% of all other Pennsylvania schools based upon student academic growth. STAR, which stands for Students and Teachers Achieving Results, is a rewards and recognition program in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Amongst those STAR Schools are two East End elementary schools, Pittsburgh Lincoln and Pittsburgh Faison, who are preparing students to transition that growth to Pittsburgh Westinghouse.
Dr. Virginia Hill, who joined Pittsburgh Lincoln as its leader in 2013, Dr. Russell Patterson, first time principal at Pittsburgh Faison, and LouAnn Zwieryznski, former principal of Pittsburgh Faison and current principal of Pittsburgh Westinghouse, are all working closely to ensure the consistent student growth at their schools.
“The only way to get where you want to go is growth,” said Superintendent Linda Lane.
On Tuesday, PA Education Acting Secretary Pedro Rivera joined the Superintendent and other District leaders to kick off week-long celebrations at Pittsburgh Lincoln. Rivera addressed about 250 students in the school’s gym. “You cannot be as successful as you have been without a lot of love and attention of many, many individuals,” said Rivera.
Those individuals were there too—parents, teachers, and community service providers including Neighborhood Learning Alliance, Homewood Children’s Village, Calvary Episcopal Church, and Mount Ararat Community Activity Center.
Pittsburgh Lincoln achieved the most growth on the PSSAs in fourth grade, where the percentage of students proficient and advanced in math went from 28.9 in 2012-13 to 54.8 in 2013-14. Fourth-graders also experience gains in reading, where the percentage of students proficient and advanced in math went from 23.7 in 2012-13 to 48.8 in 2013-14.
Lyniece Jones, who is a fifth grader now, was a part of that group and she spoke at the celebration about her experiences. More specifically, she spoke about how her teachers pushed her to work harder, “I used my brain every day– the most powerful computer in the world.”
According to the STAR index, which shows a school’s contribution to overall growth statewide, Pittsburgh Faison went from ranking in the bottom 15% in 2011-12 on the STAR index to being in the top 20% in 2013-14.
“I am excited to continue the work at Pittsburgh Westinghouse,” said Zwieryznski.
STAR Schools for the 2013-2014 school year include Pittsburgh Lincoln, Pittsburgh Faison, Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8, Pittsburgh Woolslair PreK-5, and Pittsburgh Miller K-5. Pittsburgh Oliver Citywide Academy 3-12 met the STAR standard using criteria the district developed for special schools.
STAR awards school staff for making great gains in student achievement. Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) represented staff at these schools will each receive up to $6,000 in compensation. The STAR award is funded in large part by a Teachers Incentive Fund grant.