family Living in Fort Bend

Elementary Schools - 2013-2014 School Year

Austin Parkway

Along with a high level of parental involvement, 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. Students also enjoy dedicated art and music instruction, with fourth- and fifth-grade choirs open to young songbirds.

Now in its 24th 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. Parents are an important part of the Austin Parkway family, with a very active Parent-Teacher Association. Parents logged 6,808 volunteer hours during the 2012-13 school year and continued child-friendly activities throughout the summer, with new student play dates at the school playground.

The school launched a new program in 2013, Watch D.O.G.S., an initiative to encourage fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other father figures to volunteer at the school, visit during recess and lunch, assist with morning drop-off traffic flow and mentor students. A new major fundraiser will be introduced this fall, Sailor Fest, a family-friendly event with food, games, auction items andmore. A charity walk happens in the spring.

Students from this high-performing school, located at Crosslakes Boulevard and Austin Parkway, routinely score high on the challenging state-mandated tests.

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 has been renovated. The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) raised funds for new landscaping, a sprinkler system and a $25,000 playground and pavilion.

Austin Parkway Elementary

4400 Austin Parkway
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-4001

TEA Rating: Met Standard
Distinctions Earned: Reading and Math
School Mascot: Sailors
School Colors: Red, white and blue
Principal: Donna Whisonant Assistant Principal: Courtney Dickey

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 this Fort Bend school.

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 recent years. 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.
• In 2013, Commonwealth Elementary was ranked third among Houston-area elementaries by Children at Risk.
• The National Center for Education Achievement (NCEA) named Commonwealth Elementary to its 2011 NCEA Higher Performing School List for math and writing.

Commonwealth Elementary

4909 Commonwealth Boulevard
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-5120

TEA Rating: Met Standard
Distinctions Earned: Reading, Math and Student Progress
School Mascot: Cougar
School Colors: Burgundy, green and beige
Principal: Joanne Dodson-Hagler
Assistant Principal: Laureen Sanford

Settlers Way Elementary School

As one of Fort Bend's first elementary schools, Settlers Way has a long history of doing it right. Year after year, students post impressive scores on state-mandated tests, well above district, area and state peers. In addition to a high number of students passing the test, an impressive number also do well enough to earn "exceeded progress" 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. Many teachers have been there for nearly 20 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.

Settlers Way Elementary

3015 Settlers Way Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 634-4360

TEA Rating: Met Standard
School Mascot: Hot air balloon
School Colors: Red, white and blue
Principal: Kristi Durham
Assistant Principal: Brenda Perkins