Game Changer tells the story of struggling White Street School in Springfield, MA, where “demographics” had been the steady explanation for low student achievement. Families were reluctant to send their children to a school were only 4% of fifth graders scored Proficient in any subject. In 2010, the State Education Department had singled the school out for takeover if it couldn’t improve.
Three years into a stalled turnaround effort, a small team of passionate educators who had recently moved a similarly situated school from Struggling to Excellent arrived at White Street to effect change. Within two years, the State re-classified White Street as Excellent. Families are coming back.
Read a transcript of Game Changer: Educators Turn Around a “Failing” School.
Read White Street School’s 2017 National Blue Ribbon School application.
Contact Information
Ms. Kristen Hughes, Principal at Time of Nomination
300 White Street
Springfield, MA, 01108-2174
(413) 787-7543
http://www.springfieldpublicschools.com/schools/white-street
Student Demographics 2017
| Number of students K-8 | 449 |
| Students eligible for subsidized meals | 100% |
| Limited English Proficient students | 24% |
| Students receiving special ed services | 19% |
| White students | 7% |
| African American students | 16% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 69% |
| Students of 2 or more races | 1% |
| Asian | 7% |
| Student mobility rate | 39% |
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