Bristol Elementary's 'transformational' academic efforts lead to $15K grant
Nov. 22, 2017Bristol Elementary, a K-5 District 11 public school at 890 N. Walnut St., won a $15,000 grant this fall from the Colorado Succeeds program.
The category was Transformational Impact in an Elementary School.
According to Principal Manuel Ramsey, the school initially had been selected as one of three statewide finalists based largely on its
A four-member team from Colorado Succeeds
interviews six Bristol Elementary students during a visit to the school this fall.
The team talked to the students about their learning experiences at Bristol.
Westside Pioneer photo
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With an enrollment of about 250 students, the school lists its specialized areas as Suzuki (early violin teaching), STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), movement, music and visual arts.
Colorado Succeeds is a non-profit coalition of business leaders that seeks out and recognizes public schools that are having a “transformational impact” on Colorado education, according to a press release and website information. “It also serves as a year-long campaign to implement and scale successful innovations and best practices, so every student in Colorado can benefit,” the release states.
As a finalist, Bristol was selected as the elementary division winner after being visited for half a day in September by a team from Colorado Succeeds. The group met with students, administrators, teachers and parents and observed classroom activity.
Pleased with his school's selection, Ramsey said that his “staff and students will work together to decide where to spend the money, and the goal will be to use it carefully over the next few years. Technology, robotics, science and art materials are a few ideas for spending.”
In the 2016 state testing, Bristol overall was in the top 85th percentile for Colroado, the principal reported, with a math growth score that was "almost 30 points above the state average. Also, the science score for fifth grade that year ranked Bristol in the top 63rd percentile of schools in the state."
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