Bernice Young Elementary School - Springdale, AR

Bernice Young Elementary School is one of 18 elementary schools in the Springdale School District in Northwest Arkansas. It is among the top 10 percent of high achievement schools in the state. The school's motto, "Bernice Young Elementary is buzzing at Building Youth Excellence" has been the focus of the school since opening in 2000. Excellence is not taken for granted. Building on a history of academic excellence, students and staff pursue opportunities for personalized growth. Students understand their own progress and strive to build skills to reach their fullest potential. All decisions teachers and administrators make relate to benefiting students.

Teachers consider their own professional growth important. Through collaboration during professional learning community meetings, teachers plan for student progress and for professional development that includes evidence-based instructional practices. Teachers take ownership of students' growth. Students create learning goals and understand their own learning progress. They take the lead in explaining growth to parents during student-led conferences. Relationships are a key success. The staff understands each student's strengths and weaknesses based on the relationships built and on understanding each student's progress based on frequent data review. As the staff builds relationships with students, partnerships are built with parents. Parents and volunteers are active supporters of success. Students at Bernice Young Elementary are Yellowjackets. Students know that teachers, administrators, and parents expect them to work toward excellence not only at school but also in life. Students know our reminder of excellence, "Once a Yellowjacket, always a Yellowjacket."