Countryside Elementary School - Byron Center, MI

Countryside Elementary is one of three high achieving elementary schools in Byron Center, Michigan. We have been recognized as a Reward School for the past three years, ranking in the top five percent in Michigan. Our mission is to provide a rigorous education in a positive child-centered environment, developing students' academic, social, emotional, and physical abilities to their fullest potential.

School climate and culture are the bedrock of the Countryside community. We have implemented Capturing Kids' Hearts, a research-based program which provides educators with the tools to build relationships and a sense of community within their classrooms. Students are taught to reflect on their choices and monitor their own behavior. We have also created a school-wide system of support that includes proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behavior through our Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) initiative. We firmly believe a caring culture is the foundation of academic achievement.

The Countryside Elementary staff provides a rigorous curriculum while maintaining a strong, positive learning environment. We have built a culture of continuous growth and improvement through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), using our data to drive our instruction. Teachers maintain high expectations for all students. We have proven to ourselves we can accomplish more together than we can separately. As a result, our students are reaching their potential in the areas of reading, writing, problem solving and critical thinking. The Countryside community, including students, families and staff are proud of our academic success and positive culture.