Hillcrest Elementary School fifth-graders Brianna Ocegueda, left, and Kim Shafer, work together on some math exercises in a math intervention group Tuesday at the school. Hillcrest received a Challenge Award for its fourth-grade math program from 2014. The award is given to schools with demographic challenges.

Hillcrest Elementary School has received a Challenge Award for the performance of its fourth-graders on state math assessments. More than 90 percent of the students scored at or above grade level, a feat the school’s principal attributes to the combined effort of classroom and resource teachers.

“They just work really well together as a team to provide instruction for the varied population that we have,” said Hillcrest Principal Tammy Becker.

The award recognizes the high achievement of schools with demographic challenges. Hillcrest is a designated Title 1 and English as a Second Language school, and the majority of its approximately 350 students are economically disadvantaged and “English language learners.” Because of those designations, Becker said ESL, Title 1 and special education personnel work as a team with classroom teachers.

Hillcrest Elementary School fifth-graders Brianna Ocegueda, left, and Kim Shafer, work together on some math exercises in a math intervention group Tuesday at the school. Hillcrest received a Challenge Award for its fourth-grade math program from 2014. The award is given to schools with demographic challenges.

The award is presented by the Kansas State Department of Education and measures achievement based on the school’s Kansas Assessment results, the sample size and the socio-economic status of those taking the test.

About 62 percent of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged, and 55 percent are “English language learners.” Additionally, with only 42 percent of Hillcrest’s students being white, the school has the most diverse student population of all 20 schools in the Lawrence district.

Despite the varied population, fourth-graders at Hillcrest scored significantly better than their peers districtwide. According to the assessment results, about 92 percent of Hillcrest’s fourth-grade students scored at or above grade level and about 54 percent — compared with 40 percent of fourth-graders districtwide — are on track for college and career readiness by the time they graduate. In addition, compared with the district average for the grade, fewer fourth-graders at Hillcrest scored in the lowest level, and nearly twice as many scored in the highest level.

Student performance on the new assessments fall within one of four levels: Level 1, below grade level expectations; Level 2, at grade level but not yet on track for college or career readiness; Level 3, at grade level and on track for college or career readiness; and Level 4, exceeds grade level expectations and on track for college or career readiness.

State math assessment results for Hillcrest Elementary School 2015 fourth grade. Source: Kansas State Department of Education

Becker said teacher teams use a combination of techniques, the foremost of which is blended learning. The districtwide initiative “blends” the use of traditional instruction, online material and small group work to give teachers more ability to tailor lessons to the needs of specific students. The technique is used in about 250 classrooms throughout the district, and Becker said it allowed the teachers to adjust their instruction to meet the strengths and needs of the school’s population.

“Personalized learning allows those teachers to work to meet individual needs, no matter if those kids are disadvantaged or they’re academically advanced,” she said.

The extra staff also creates a beneficial ratio of students to teachers, Becker said.

“(The resource teachers) allow us to break down our small groups even further, and so that benefits those kids,” she said.

The assessment itself is also of note. The 2014-2015 Kansas Assessment Program results are the first under the new Common Core education standards adopted in 2010. The new standards zero in on critical thinking skills and whether students are prepared for college or the workplace by the time they graduate from high school. Many state and local education officials have said the new assessments are more rigorous, and Becker agrees.

“The rigor of those assessments was definitely raised a notch or two, so I think that alone says a lot for not only the teachers but the group of kids who took those assessments,” she said.

Hillcrest is one of 99 schools from 34 Kansas public districts that will receive the award. Kansas State Board of Education members will present certificates of merit to staff at Hillcrest on Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.