LaVace Stewart Elementary School - Kemah, TX

Stewart Elementary is a unique place for children to excel as readers, writers, problem solvers, and citizens regardless of their home language, their disability, or economic status. It is also a place where families gather to volunteer, seek financial help, or even learn the English language. There is no academic indicator or challenge this Kemah, Texas school has yet to conquer.

Nine out of 10 students at Stewart pass the state assessments and exceed all federal indicators. The school has received the National Blue Ribbon recognition in 2007 and the Title I Distinguished Campus award. When asked for the secret of student success, staff say three things: first, a shared philosophy that all children can learn; second, research-based, personalized instructional techniques and a common instructional language that allows students to build on prior knowledge; and a strong instructional coaching model.

Stewart’s early childhood program has helped increase language, literacy, and math readiness in children as young as three years. The school was the first in the district to offer a dual language program in English and Spanish. This Stewart program has also become a model for other bilingual campuses.