family Living in Fort Bend
Elementary Schools - 2011-2012 School Year
| School | Neighborhoods Served |
| Austin Parkway | The Crossing I, The Manors, Parkside, The Pointe, The Reserve, The Terrace, Waters Cove |
| Commonwealth | Avalon at Riverstone, Crescent View Estates, Edgewood, Hartford Landing, Ivy Bend, Meridian Park, The Orchard, Sanders Glen, Senova, Shadow Glen, Silver Grove, Sweetbriar, Vintage Trail |
| Schiff | Stonebrook |
| Settlers Way | Brookside, Creekstone Village, The Crossing II & III, Crossing Cove, Nandina |
Austin Parkway
Along with a high level of parental involvement, Exemplary-rated Austin Parkway Elementary School boasts an excellent academic program designed to meet the needs of every student. One of its premier offerings is Reading Recovery, an international program that identifies first-grade students with reading difficulties and then provides them with 20 weeks of intensive, one-on-one instruction.
Now in its 22th year, Austin Parkway is networked, with Internet access, a computer lab, and computers in every classroom. In addition, all teachers have their own personal Web pages and e-mail links.
Students from this high-performing school, located at Crosslakes Boulevard and Austin Parkway, routinely score high on the challenging Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAKS) test.
The third-grade test scores are particularly important because third-graders not passing the TAKS reading portion during the spring or summer testing periods will not be promoted to the fourth grade. Also, fifth-graders not passing the TAKS reading and math portions during the spring or summer testing periods will not be promoted to the sixth grade. Scores from the spring 2011 TAKS test are:
- Reading - 96% passing
- Math - 97% passing
- Writing - 93% passing
- Science- 96% passing
Highlights:
- Completely networked, Austin Parkway Elementary offers computers and Internet access in every classroom.
- Designated as a Reading Recovery School, Austin Parkway offers 20 weeks of one-on-one instruction to first graders who need additional reading help.
- An Extended Day program is offered before and after school.
- The entire school was recently renovated. The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) raised funds for new landscaping, a sprinkler system and a $25,000 playground and pavilion.
4400 Austin Parkway
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-4001
School Mascot: Sailors
School Colors: Red, white and blue
Principal: Donna Whisonant
Assistant Principal: Hooria Qayyum
Commonwealth Elementary School
With students at the heart of every decision, Commonwealth Elementary's formula of high expectations coupled with a nurturing environment has yielded impressive results for the Fort Bend school.
Commonwealth has regularly earned the state's coveted Exemplary status, based on TAKS test scores far exceeding state and district averages. Ninety-nine percent of students taking the 2011 TAKS test passed each portion of the exam: reading, math, writing and science.
An advanced curriculum aided by state-of-the-art technology helps students succeed. In addition to a gifted and talented program, other initiatives include multi-sensory grammar, fifth-grade/kindergarten book buddies, electronic bookshelf, art à-la-carte, character education, writer's workshop, math solutions, mountain math, math problem of the day and more.
Highlights:
- Networked computers are in every classroom and an Instructional Technology Specialist provides on-site support and training.
- Smartboards – interactive whiteboards – are in every fourth- and fifth-grade classroom, along with one in each grade pod, the library and the computer lab.
- Students in all classrooms keep current through a daily news show produced by fifth-graders who utilize video, music, transitions and chroma key background technology.
- Striving always to improve, Commonwealth launched a Professional Learning Communities (PLC) program in 2009. Through this effort, collaborative team members work interdependently to achieve common goals linked under the umbrella of learning. Initial training for the PLC program was available through a donation by Commonwealth's Parent/Teacher Association, an active organization that raises thousands of dollars each year to benefit students.
4909 Commonwealth Boulevard
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-5120
School Mascot: Cougar
School colors: Burgundy, green and beige
Principal: Charmaine Hobin
Assistant Principal: Laureen Sanford
Schiff Elementary School
Riverstone students are enjoying one of Fort Bend's newest campuses, Jan Schiff Elementary School, opened in August 2008. With approximately 89,000 square feet, the $15 million campus not only has classrooms for Kindergarten through fifth grade, but also space for the popular extended-day after-school care program and a pre-Kindergarten program.
Specialized areas in the school meet a variety of student needs, including a music room, science classroom, computer lab and small broadcast studio for school-wide announcements and student-led news programs. A room dedicated to physical education has special sport flooring and the cafeteria with stage can double as a performance auditorium.
Within this impressive physical structure, Schiff Elementary also is building a strong foundation for learning and whole-child development. Principal Mary Brewster's well-rounded educational "menu" includes first getting to know the children with thorough assessments of their strengths and weaknesses. Everyday instruction includes reading, math, science and social studies, with as much small group teaching and individual work as possible. On-site at Schiff are reading and math specialists who provide further individual attention and innovative approaches to students struggling in those areas. Plus, the school's technology specialist not only helps students hone their technology application skills, but works with other teachers to integrate technology into everyday instruction, making its use a relevant extension of the curriculum.
In addition to academic instruction, the new school already has established a wealth of extracurricular activities for students, including Student Council with third-, fourth- and fifth-grade representatives, the Go Green Club, the Fitness Club, Destination Imagination, Safety Patrol and more.
Schiff holds a Recognized rating from the Texas Education Agency for the 2010-2011 school year and saw across-the-board improvements in its TAKS results. Scores are:
- Reading, 96% passing
- Math, 95% passing
- Writing, 95% passing
- Science, 90% passing
Schiff Elementary
7400 Discovery Lane
Missouri City, TX 77459
(281) 634-9450
School Mascot: Shark
School Colors: Blue, gray and white
Principal: Mary Brewster
Assistant Principal: Jocelyn Jackson
Settlers Way Elementary School
As one of Fort Bend's oldest elementary schools, Exemplary-rated Settlers Way has a long history of doing it right. Year after year, students post impressive scores on the state-mandated TAKS test, well above district, area and state peers. For the 2010-2011 school year, scores are:
- Reading, 98% passing
- Math, 99% passing
- Writing, 97% passing
- Science, 98% passing
In addition to a high number of students passing the test, a striking number also did well enough to earn commended status.
Principal Kristi Durham credits the school's success to strong teacher instruction and the ability to meet the needs of a diverse student population. "Our guiding philosophy is that every student can learn," she said. "We work to provide a motivating, challenging learning environment that meets the needs of all students, regardless of learning style."
Settlers Way teachers are experts at differentiated instruction, which presents information in a variety of ways for a variety of students – hands-on, auditory and visual learners. Many Settlers Way teachers have made a career-long commitment to the school, which enjoys minimal employee turnover. In fact, two staff members have been at Settlers Way since the school's inception, with many others working there for more than 15 years.
Embracing its mission of concentrating on the many facets of a child's development, Settlers Way offers an array of extracurricular activities, including choir for fourth and fifth graders, a chess club and a Bluebonnet after-school reading program for all students. Plus, Settlers Way is the only school in the district to offer a regional day school program for the deaf, serving pre-kindergarten through second-grade students. School staff members also offer free sign language classes for the community.
3015 Settlers Way Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-4360
School Mascot: Hot air balloon
School colors: Red, white and blue
Principal: Kristi Durham
Assistant Principal: Brenda Perkins