Students at DuPont Elementary are making a lot of growth academically, but they are hitting a plateau, said Principal Ruthie Panni.
"We think it's a lack of language in the home," she said, explaining that children with parents who are uneducated and don't read or speak to them often have a difficult time improving their language skills.
To combat this problem, the school is working to create new spaces designed to build language in its students.
DuPont received a $50,000 grant to redo its library, which was last updated in 1967. In addition to printed books, the library will also offer Kindles that parents can check out and load with e-books.
The school is also adding a STEAM lab, and a culinary lab featuring a full kitchen, giving kids more opportunities for hands-on learning as well as to use their language skills.
Thanks to an enrichment grant from the Hixson Chamber Council, teachers spent a week redesigning their units of study to utilize the new spaces and emphasize the focus on building language, said Panni.
The school is holding a community yard sale Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with all proceeds benefiting the new STEAM lab and culinary center.
DuPont Elementary is at 4134 Hixson Pike. For more information, visit dupont.hcde.org.