Hamilton County Schools officials celebrate results of Opportunity Zone literacy intervention program

As fellow first-grader Keely Derrick looks at the camera, Pedro Andres-Pascual signs his name on the "I Jumped a Level" banner at Orchard Knob Elementary School on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Students' reading success was celebrated with stickers and the chance to sign the banner. As fellow first-grader Keely Derrick looks at the camera, Pedro Andres-Pascual signs his name on the "I Jumped a Level" banner at Orchard Knob Elementary School on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Students' reading success was celebrated with stickers and the chance to sign the banner.

By Meghan Mangrum January 25, 2018 6 min read

Photo Gallery

Opportunity Zone leaders celebrate early success of new literacy intervention model

First-grader Takiyah Smith signs her name on the

First-grader Pedro Andres-Pascual signs his name on the

First-grader Ater Makwet prepares to sign his name on the

As fellow first-grader Keely Derrick looks at the camera, Pedro Andres-Pascual signs his name on the

Hamilton County Schools officials are tentatively celebrating the progress Opportunity Zone students have made since a new literacy intervention program was launched last fall.

District leaders, including Superintendent Bryan Johnson, school board members Karitsa Mosley Jones and Tiffanie Robinson and other Opportunity Zone administrators gathered Wednesday at Orchard Knob Elementary School to celebrate first-graders at the school.

“We are celebrating these students who have jumped reading levels,” Principal LaFrederick Thirkill said. The first-grade cohort highlighted as a success started the school year with only 50 percent of the students reading at grade level – now 58 percent are on or above grade level after the implementation of the R.I.S.E. – Reading Intervention for Student Express – intervention model.

Though just over half of Orchard Knob’s first-graders are reading at grade level, the school’s data outshines that of its peers.

Opportunity Zone schools

› Brainerd High› Dalewood Middle› Hardy Elementary› Woodmore Elementary› Barger Elementary› Howard High› East Lake Middle› Orchard Knob Elementary› Calvin Donaldson Elementary› Clifton Hills Elementary› East Lake Elementary› Orchard Knob Middle