Whitman Elementary - Tulsa Public Schools

D. Challenges
The student population is highly mobile and experiences problems associated with chronic
and generational poverty: limited support for school, neglect and abuse, emotional trauma,
hunger, poor impulse control, cognitive delays and distrust. While some may assume that
education is not a priority in many families, education is valued but often times the parents
lack the skills necessary to assist the students in being successful. A majority of the students
receive free or reduced lunch (103 percent) and most live in single parent and/or extended
family households; a small number of students live in traditional family settings.
The dramatic effects of such generational limitations are exhibited daily in parents’ inability to
support and assist their children with the basic rudiments of homework and related practice.
Classroom management and behavior problems, as well as cognitive delays reflect the
multiple challenges that are encountered on a daily basis. Absenteeism, tardiness, inability
to stay on task, and significant deficiencies in academic development compound the existing
challenges. Child neglect and child abuse, lack of basic family resources and transient
parental and adult relationships are all occurrences that come to the doorstep of the school.
The Walt Whitman staff views these circumstances as opportunities for growth. These
challenges will be addressed wherever and whenever possible through the collective efforts,
energies and talents of this staff. The staff holds high expectations for all students with
enthusiasm as we live the school mantra, “Working Works”.
E. AYP Status
School Math – State Math AYP? Reading – State AYP?
Year ALL Target Yes, No or ALL Reading Yes, No
Students
SH Students Target or SH
04-05 690 790 SH 491 768 SH
05-06 606 790 No 215 768 No
06-07 537 932 SH 373 914 SH
07-08 850 932 Yes 476 914 Yes
08-09 714 932 No 614 914 No
F. Attendance Statistics
Year Attendance Rate Target Rate
04-05 93.3 (916) 91.2 (664)
05-06 93.4 (940) 91.2 (664)
06-07 92.1 (772) 91.2 (664)
07-08 91.6 (712) 91.2 (664)
08-09 91.4 (688) 91.2 (664)
Walt Whitman SIPlan 0910.1 - Page 5