Whitman Elementary - Tulsa Public Schools

PART I - Description of School
A. Who We Are and Who We Serve
Walt Whitman Elementary School, a Pre-K through 5 th grade facility, serves approximately
270 children in a community seriously distressed from economic turmoil on the north side of
Tulsa, Oklahoma. The student population is 84% African American, 7% Caucasian, 6%
American Indian, 4% Hispanic, and 0% Asian. After being identified by the state for three
years (NCLB) as a School in Need of Improvement, Walt Whitman is no longer considered at
risk. Walt Whitman has 103% free or reduced lunch. Although our student mobility rate has
increased to 69% for the 2009-2010 school year, our holding power has also increased to
88%. Walt Whitman currently has 14% of its students on an Individualized Education Plan
with one-hundred (100%) percent of those students served in an inclusive program. While the
physical school facility is in excellent condition and has been a source of pride in the
community, we are striving to make stronger connections with the families that we serve.
B. Programs and Achievements
Programs
• Academic Coach
• Compass Learning and Earobics
• Mentors and Partner Readers: Asbury
Methodist Church & North Tulsa Baptist
Church
• Book It! Reading Program
• Book Club & Principal’s Book of the
Month
• Operation Aware
• Breakfast in a Bag
• Student Council/Service Projects
• Safety Patrol
• PBS School – Whitman “WORKS”
• Counselor’s Breakfast Club
• Honor Roll and Citizenship Recognition
• Benchmark Assessments curriculum
alignment
• Safari Montage
• Attendance Challenges
• Instrumental Music
• Educational Consulting Services
• Library Aides Performing Duties (LAPD)
• Parent Facilitator and PTA
• Operation School Bell
• Backpacks for Kids
• Tulsa Assistance League Program
• DaySpring site based counseling services
Achievements
• School climate – Significant increase in
time on task
• Professional Development – Increased inservice
opportunities based upon
students’ needs identified through data
• Increased collegiality of faculty –
collaboration on instruction
• Increased Library Circulation
• Increased Active Parental Participation as
evidenced by parent conferencing and NE
Oklahoma PTA Growth Award
• Recognition – Honor Roll, Attendance and
Citizenship Awards, Reading Challenge
and PBS “WORKS” behavior celebrations.
• Whitman
Well Prepared
Outstanding Effort
Respectful Choices
Kindness Counts
Safe Behavior
Walt Whitman SIPlan 0910.1 - Page 3