A Quality Elementary School Defined

What are the characteristics of a quality elementary school?

excellent teachers are hired and retained
teacher evaluations are used to evaluate and improve performance; principals do not play God
principals have leadership and problem solving skills; the principals are good managers and most of their time is spent on academic achievement
the principal is at the school when school is in attendance; meetings and training is done during the summer or after school
there are no early out days
teacher training is designed to make the teachers more effective
the school is most proud of student performance, not their computer labs, new lighting systems, or parquet floors in their gym
the school is results driven and has adequate measurement tools
achievement in the core subjects is a priority; assemblies and field trips do not interfere with classroom success
fifth graders are prepared to enter pre-algebra in the sixth grade
the classrooms are self contained, not leveled or departmentalized
students achieve high standardized test scores; the goal for most students ought to be the 95th percentile
students are not allowed to transfer out of a class
students that fail are retained
parent conferences are scheduled only for students that are under performing
communications with parents are timely and effective
teachers are supported with the appropriate classroom materials and with principals that allow them to use the teaching methods that work for their teaching style; teachers are not asked to compromise their standards or expectations
teachers have high expectations for their students
students are challenged
students are taught to be independent
students are taught to be organized
the students are taught to work
the students are taught how to learn how to learn
process is as important as content
the students are assigned meaningful projects
the students are taught cursive and are competent by the end of fourth grade
the students are taught typing and do all their own typing by the end of fifth grade
there is a spiraling curriculum that includes an aggressive vocabulary program; the curriculum leads to mastery learning
the school invests in the very best text books
curriculum exceeds state standards which ought to be the minimum required
classroom interruptions are kept to a minimum
the school knows how to apply progressive discipline; bullying is not tolerated; classroom disruptions are not allowed
parents are welcomed into the classroom to assist the teacher
the clerks in the office are friendly and welcoming and support the teachers, not the other way around
parents that enable their children are counseled
the classrooms are friendly and welcoming
the school is kept clean
the school has a librarian who welcomes the students; the library is open when students want to go there; the library is well stocked with fiction and nonfiction; the library has above grade level books for the students who read above grade level; the librarian cooperates with the teachers
the library is open on the first day of school
the reading program includes direct instruction and a lot of reading practice of fiction and nonfiction
the computer lab is open on the first day of school
classroom sizes are kept small

Quality schools have educational field trips like this one to Sea World. Field trips ought to be about learning that is better taught outside the four walls of the classroom.