Northside Elementary School - Saint James, MN

As a Turnaround Arts partner school, we value the creativity and diversity of our student body. By incorporating the arts across subject areas, both students and staff are able to share their strengths through various mediums. We further believe in a collaborative school structure to best meet the needs of all learners. To fulfill our mission of Excellence in Education: High Expectations, Real Results, we pride ourselves on being student-centered.

We utilize a multi-faceted approach to respond to the academic and behavioral needs of each student through a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework. Through the MTSS model, teachers are able to identify the root cause of potential learning or behavioral deficits in order to target specific tiered interventions to provide the necessary supports for each student. A key component to this behavior framework is relationships. Teachers meticulously build relationships and create cultures of learning within their classrooms to set all students up for success. This framework is supported through evidence-based instruction and intervention practices that enrich the curricular work, along with providing students the ability to set and track academic goals. Further, both teachers and school administration value collaboration and that is apparent during weekly professional learning communities (PLCs). Each week, teams meet in PLCs to map curriculum, develop assessments, evaluate student data, and to alter instructional practices supported by grade level data.

We are honored to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School.