Ashworth Elementary School

By Shirley Jinkins, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

May 13–DISTRICT: Arlington

DEMOGRAPHICS: 44 percent economically disadvantaged, 10 percent limited English

FAST FACT: TAKS scores are higher than those at many schools with fewer low-income students and non-English speakers.

STATE RATING: Exemplary

ARLINGTON — A banner outside the building reads “Ashworth Accelerated Elementary School.” It’s a designation that school officials have taken upon themselves, and it’s a mission statement.

“We call ourselves ‘accelerated’ because that’s the philosophy behind everything we do,” Principal Lynn Allen said.

Ashworth Elementary has attained exemplary status four times in its 11-year history.

Its 598 students are identified by graduating class instead of grade level. (A current sixth-grader, for example, is a member of the Class of 2013.) Goal-setting and good citizenship practices are requirements. One sixth-grade teacher awards merit badges for qualities like courtesy, perseverance and integrity.

Ashworth made Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s top schools in December. The rankings were based on research from the National Center for Educational Accountability, affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin.

They looked at how well students did in reading, writing, math, science and social studies TAKS tests, taking into account student demographics.

Ashworth’s performance really stands out when compared with similar schools. The school also outperforms many elementary schools with far fewer economically disadvantaged students.

An integrated, enthusiastic approach has worked at Ashworth, with plenty of incentives.

“Music is TAKS, and it’s math, it’s science — it’s the whole child,” said music teacher Barbara Keaton, who seeks out science songs and explains to orchestra students why humidity affects a violin string.

Word has gotten around about Ashworth’s reputation. Parents line up every March during Arlington’s open transfer period hoping to enroll their children in Ashworth.

“I tell our students, ‘You are the model for many, many schools,’” Allen said. “It is a belief: ‘Represent yourself well,’ and they believe it.”

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syjinkins@star-telegram.com Shirley Jinkins, 817-548-5565

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Copyright (c) 2007, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

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