Dear Weddington Elementary Stakeholders,

State and local education leaders are committed to providing parents with information about schools, believing that well-informed parents and community members will be empowered and involved with their children's learning. North Carolina's Ready Accountability Model provides information about our school through the North Carolina School Report Card. This yearly report card includes important information about school and student performance, class sizes, attendance, school safety, instructional resources, and quality of teachers. There is also information about how our school measured against federal targets. School Report Cards are provided for regular public schools, charter schools, and alternative schools. Our school’s full Report Card can be found on the NC School Report Cards’ website. Report Card data is also available for our district and for the state’s education system as a whole.

At Weddington Elementary, we are very proud to have received a School Performance Grade of an A for the 2021-2022 school year! Our school was a top-ranked school in the state and one of only 22 elementary schools across the state to earn an A rating. Our grade level proficiency in grades 3, 4, and 5 for reading exceeded 84% and math exceeded 89%. Math and science proficiency for 5th grade students exceeded 93% and 94% respectively.

The assessment data only represents a portion of the excellence at Weddington Elementary School. The Weddington Cluster's Global Focus and mission-minded identity instill an appreciation for serving our community and understanding various cultures all over the world. When you enter our building, it is evident our students have developed a passion for global engagement and awareness, preparation for the future, leadership skills, and academic rigor.

While we take time to celebrate academic success, the Weddington Staff also strive for continuous improvement. This process involves setting School Improvement Plan goals that support our PBIS behavior model, our MTSS data collection system, instructional coaching, the literacy initiative, and most importantly, student academic growth and achievement. We are constantly looking for innovative ways to advance our instruction and learning environment. Our teachers are committed to the execution of high-level differentiated instruction to meet the individual learning needs of all students. The Weddington staff participates in professional development and Professional Learning Communities to add innovative and collaborative strategies to their “blended” teaching repertoire. They also spend an extensive amount of time disaggregating student data to ensure their instruction is individualized according to student academic needs. With 1:1 technology access in grades 2-5 and teacher use of technology, our students are continually engaged in 21st century learning and instruction.

The first priority of all Weddington staff is, and will continue to be, the safety of all students. We make a collective effort to ensure we practice diligence in protecting our students and their school environment. The staff consistently takes every necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of our children.

Weddington enjoys a rich history of academic and cultural excellence that is the result of a collegial partnership between the school staff and parents who provide a diversity of experiences for our students. Parents, teachers, support staff, and administration all have

an important role to encourage our children to be innovative and globally competitive students. Weddington Elementary staff also place a significant focus on qualities and attributes which are crucial to the success of students as they transition into adulthood and enter the work force. Through our Terrific Kids award program, “Paws” positive behavior system, individual classroom rewards, and student leadership opportunities, we consistently celebrate all students as they exhibit these qualities.

We are also extremely proud of our Spanish Dual Language program. Our Dual Language classrooms consist of one or two classes per grade level, with a gradual progression from a 90/10 model in kindergarten to a 50/50 model in 4th and 5th grades. Our youngest children enter with a minimal command of the Spanish language and develop into fluent Spanish speakers within one school year. You are encouraged to review our "Dual Language" tab under "Quick Links".

At Weddington Elementary, stakeholder involvement is critical to student success. Our school Site Based Team, the Weddington Elementary PTO, and our parent volunteers play a vital role in the success of our school. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer and we welcome all parents to participate in these opportunities.

Finally, please review our Report Card in its entirety and feel free to contact me should you have additional questions about our school. Together, the Weddington staff, students, parents and community stakeholders will work collaboratively to continue the excellence that surrounds Weddington Elementary School.

Emily Kraftson, Principal

Weddington Elementary School