Academics is the primary focus of life at Bryant School, where a commitment to academic excellence for all students is embraced. The Portrait of a Bryant Citizen provides the flavor of this academic focus: self-actualized learners with strong skills in critical thinking and analysis. Teachers from kindergarten through fifth grade take pride in the accomplishments of our graduates.
In addition to classroom curriculum, multiple extracurricular activities provide opportunities for enrichment and exploration of individual interests and learning styles. Art, drama, music, dance, physical education, science, math, chess, speech, and technology are all areas where individual expression is encouraged and developed.
As measured by the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning), in the 2005-2006 school year, 95.2% of Bryant’s fourth graders met standard in reading, 89.3% met standard in writing, and 89.3% met standard in mathematics.
Teachers at Bryant use informal and formal assessments as a regular part of teaching and learning. These assessments provide teachers with important information about student progress in academic achievement. Informal assessments include teacher observations, portfolios of student work, CBAs (Classroom Based Assessments), rubrics, and checklists. Formal assessments include the tests we administer to all students every year. They are different at each grade level and provide us with school-based data that we are able to compare with data from schools across the district and nation.
Bryant kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders take the DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) each fall and spring. It is administered to students individually by their teachers and pre and post test scores are considered carefully when planning instruction.
Our third, fourth, and fifth graders take the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning), a criterion referenced test that compares student achievement to standards that have been set for student achievement at 4th, 7th, and 10th grades. The WASL tests student achievement in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. It is the test that reflects our state and district commitment to standards based teaching and learning and the EALRS (Essential Academic Learning Requirements) adopted by the State of Washington. The district has set high expectations for bringing all students to standard and has mandated that all high school graduates will be at standard or beyond in order to receive a Certificate of Mastery/high school diploma by 2008.
While we take formal assessments seriously, academic life at Bryant is not determined solely by test scores. We do take seriously the opportunity to learn from our data and to reflect on our teaching practice and the achievement of our students. Most importantly, the staff at Bryant is committed to the success of its children and celebrates that success on a daily basis.
Complete assessment data for individual schools is available on the Seattle Public Schools website at www.seattleschools.org.
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