Sixth-grade pilot program at some Escambia elementary schools starts positive, will expand
By Mary Lett
Kahia Ross and Sawyer Valdez are enjoying sixth grade at their elementary schools.
The two are among 55 or so Escambia County School District students to attend their first year of middle school at Cordova Park and West Pensacola elementary schools rather than in a middle school setting.
“I’m happy because I get to stay with my best friend,” said Kahia when asked about remaining at West Pensacola, a school she has attended since kindergarten. “I like this better because I’ve heard in middle school you only have five minutes to get to each class, and sometimes you must go to the opposite side of the school.”
For Sawyer, it was also about staying at Cordova Park with longtime friends, but he also loved his teachers.
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ECSD Superintendent Keith Leonard said the pilot program – only offered to Cordova Park and West Pensacola students this year – can eventually extend the “elementary experience” for all sixth-graders.
“We believe it is a good opportunity for a sixth-grader to extend that ‘elementary experience’ or have the option – depending upon their level of maturity, where they are academically or perhaps what their interests may be,” said Leonard, who explained if a student wanted to play a sport, they could attend their zoned middle school or apply for Brown Barge Middle School.
For sixth-graders whose parents opted for the elementary route, Leonard said the school district is trying to give those students experiences such as campus leadership, music or STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art and Math) programs.
The school district plans to expand sixth-grade classes to other elementary schools.
“We don’t have a timeline for this, the time will be dependent upon what best serves the students, academically. However, we hope to, very soon, add sixth grade at Longleaf Elementary School,” Leonard said, noting seventh- and eighth-grade classes also will be incorporated into the school in a staggered fashion.
“So that would give us an opportunity to provide – at that site – all the other amenities that a K-8, in our estimations, should have, whether it be athletics, other extracurricular activities like band and chorus, JROTC. That is a site that we feel as through we can do that,” he said, adding Longleaf is near Pine Forest High School and George Stone Technical College.
He added the expansion would help the school district meet the growing needs of the Beulah community.
“We have Beulah Middle School and the community where there are many, many, many homes being built, and families moving into those homes with school-age children. We have purchased property – a third or fourth of a mile from Beulah Elementary School – to perhaps construct a primary elementary and an intermediate elementary,” he said.
“That K-8 (Longleaf Elementary) would help alleviate some of the student-population pressure at Beulah Middle School. Depending on where the zone is drawn, it also may help alleviate some pressure at other elementary schools and middle schools.”
So far, parents and students who opted to remain at Cordova Park and West Pensacola are pleased.
“Our decision to keep Sawyer in Cordova Park for sixth grade was probably the best one for him. The smaller class setting has been wonderful for him,” said Aisling Valdez, Sawyer’s mother, who is also a Cordova Park kindergarten teacher.
“He may have fallen through the cracks in a middle school. He needed that extra support that Cordova Park Elementary School gives the students. That’s why we kept him here.”
The sixth-graders also like the familiarity of their elementary schools.
“The teachers here are really nice, and I’ve been at Cordova Park so long – it’s my comfort zone,” said Sawyer who has been at the school since kindergarten. “Sixth grade does feel different from fifth grade. The math and reading are harder and we’re changing classes now.”
For Matthew Weldon, a West Pensacola sixth-grader, not having to wear uniform is a win.
“I don’t like uniforms and I agree with Kahia, you don’t have walk around as much. You go to straight to your next class,” he said.
Leo Bailey, another West Pensacola student, said he’s excited to be in the first class of sixth-graders.
“It’s good because the teachers can test it (the pilot program) out to see how it works and they can make improvements for next year when the next sixth-graders come,” he said. “And it’s also really fun that we get to stay here again.”
West Pensacola and Cordova Park sixth-grade teachers say the smaller classes allow them to get to know each of their students.
Isea Ray, West Pensacola’s math and science teacher, said his students are doing well academically.
“I have about 25 kids and I see them for the majority of the day so I can see their growth – not in just one subject or two subjects but overall. I can continue to build relationships with my students and keep them on track,” said Ray, who added at a traditional middle school he would have about 120 students each day.
Emily Amberson, Cordova Park’s U.S. History and English Language Arts teacher, said she can meet the individual needs of each of her students.
“We are able to get know each student and meet their needs with small group learning, and whole group learning with just small class sizes,” Amberson said. “The students are still in that elementary mindset. …We are helping transition them into that middle school learning, so next year when they go to an actual middle school, they are ready to learn in that middle school environment.”
West Pensacola Elementary has 28 students and Cordova Park has 25 students in two sixth-grade classes this year.
“I anticipate more students staying next year. This concept was new and different, and some parents may have been a little hesitant,” said West Pensacola Principal Christine Baker. “But this is going to be a growing year for us. We have planned field trips to Roy Hyatt Environmental Center and the (NAS) Flight Deck for all our sixth-graders. We’ve also started student leadership programs, which is a step toward SGA, and partnered with the Family YMCA to offer after-school sports.”
She said her sixth-graders also have taken their roles as school leaders serious.
“They want the school to be called West Pensacola K-6. The sixth-graders don’t want to be only identified as an elementary school,” she said.
Michelle Andersen, Cordova Park’s assistant principal, said there has been a lot of positive feedback from parents, grandparents and the students.
“We have several parents who would like to see us have seventh and eighth grade here,” she said.
“I’m one of those parents who would love for Cordova Park to become a K-8 school,” Aisling Valdez added.