Eastside Elementary School - Clinton, MS

Eastside Elementary School is characterized by its extreme pursuit of excellence and is committed to the educational philosophy that all students can learn. The school is given a unique opportunity in that all 4th and 5th grade students in the community attend Eastside--regardless of race, cultural background, socioeconomic background, gender, and exceptionality. Leading such a diverse population to be highly successful academically requires a major focus on data-driven, standards-focused instruction. Teachers consistently assess and review data to ensure that students' needs are being addressed appropriately through student-centered instruction.

Relationships with parents and the community provide a sense of belonging and pride for students, and the administrations' open-door policy capitalizes on the idea that all stakeholders--including their ideas and concerns--are welcome at Eastside. With iPads in the hands of every student, technology is a major focus. Students practice applying knowledge to become creators and producers in a technology-driven world, and all 5th graders experience technology through the world of computer science with an entire class devoted to the subject. Eastside students also have the opportunity to participate in strings classes and use a state-of-the-art science lab to conduct standards-based experiments. In striving for excellence and repeatedly finding success, it is clear that Eastside Elementary stands out as one of the finest schools in the nation.