Parkside Elementary Earns U.S. News “Best Elementary School” Honor
Parkside Elementary School, one of seven GCS elementary schools, has been informed by U.S. News & World Report that Parkside has placed among the top 30% of elementary schools in the state of Indiana, making it a U.S. News Best Elementary School. The list is the first-ever ranking for public elementary schools, after years of rankings for high schools across the nation. Parkside’s high ranking means the school may proudly display a U.S. News-trademarked Best Elementary School’s award “badge” on the school’s social media, website, signage, apparel, and more.
Parkside Elementary School has been ranked #126 (out of 1016) in Indiana Elementary Schools. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school.
The following is what U.S. News & World Report said about Parkside Elementary School: The student population of Parkside Elementary School is 345 and the school serves grades K-5 (GCS edit, this information was gathered prior to the opening of Goshen Intermediate School). At Parkside Elementary School, 67% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 57% scored at or above that level for reading. The school’s minority student enrollment is 47%. The student-teacher ratio is 17:1, which is the same as that of the district. The student population is made up of 53% female students and 47% male students. The school enrolls 61% economically disadvantaged students. There are 20 equivalent full-time teachers and 1 full-time school counselor.
According to the report, Parkside students did better in math and better in reading when compared with students across the state. In Indiana, 45% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading (57% Parkside), and 47% tested at or above that level for math (67% Parkside). Based upon Parkside’s student demographics, mentioned above, Parkside students performed “well above expectations” on both reading and math.
Mrs. Betts McFarren has been the principal at Parkside since 2001, and she said this about the U.S. News Best Elementary Schools ranking, “Parkside Elementary is a C.L.A.S.S. (Connecting Learning Assures Successful Students) school which includes academic instruction as well as the Life Goal pledge, “Do the right thing, and treat people right”, along with C.L.A.S.S. Lifelines such as Caring, Cooperation, Courage, Effort, Flexibility, Generosity, Gratitude, Honesty, Initiative, Integrity, Organization, Perseverance, Pride, Problem-Solving, Respect, and Self-Control. Our focus at Parkside is to build leaders and we develop students through our Student Ambassador Program. We are very honored to receive this recognition from the U.S. News & World Report for Top Best Schools in Indiana.”
Dr. Steven Hope, GCS Superintendent, added that, “As a district, we are proud of the ranking U.S. News & World Report has awarded to Parkside; #126 out of 1016 Indiana elementary schools. It is an acknowledgement of the efforts by all Parkside teachers, students, and staff. Our elementary schools are “neighborhood schools” which enable staff to build relationships with students, families, and neighbors, and the entire Parkside School community is to be commended for this honor. I am thankful for the community support for Parkside and for all GCS schools, and I look forward to continued student achievement and growth in our district.”