El Dorado School District celebrates success, looks to the future
El Dorado schools are focused on preparing students for their future. By targeting the skills students need to be successful in and out of the classroom, teachers and staff in El Dorado are watching students grow and celebrating every achievement.
Building a strong foundation
El Dorado elementary schools are utilizing the R.I.S.E. (Reading Intervention for Students to Excel) program to enhance foundational literacy skills. Students who need to hone their reading skills receive additional one-on-one or small group sessions with our paraprofessionals. During breakfast at Northwest Elementary and Washington Middle School, reading takes center stage. Northwest teachers read to their students and Washington Middle School plays audiobooks for students to listen to while they eat breakfast.
“We hope that listening to the exciting book series we choose will peak our students’ interest to want to read more books on their own,” said Washington Middle School Principal Jody Vines.
As students reach their grade-level literacy goals, Hugh Goodwin holds a clap-out in the hallway to celebrate their success. Yocum Primary students who master their lists of sports-related sight words are recognized with a visit from some of the Barton and EHS student athletes. Every student who achieves success in the classroom is recognized by our staff with accolades and encouragement.
Preparing for the real world
El Dorado schools provide a wide variety of classes and experiences to ensure our students are ready to take on whatever their future holds.
From building computers to coding drones,
Washington Middle School students utilize all aspects of technology to solve real world problems.
Electives at WMS include
STEM, robotics and cinematography, along with arts programs like band, orchestra and musical production.
At Barton Junior High, two new classes were added to this year’s curriculum for seventh and eighth-graders. A new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) class called “What’s Your Problem” allows seventh-graders to research problems facing today’s society and then create their own innovative solutions. All eighth grade students take a new class called Wildkitten Way, which addresses ways to enhance their social and emotional character to cope with real world issues.
El Dorado High School offers something of interest for every student. EHS offers 165 courses for students to choose from including technology-based courses, vocational and concurrent credit programs with South Arkansas Community College and 18 Advanced Placement courses.
Some of the most recently added classes include tourism and hospitality, cybersecurity, engineering, culinary arts and photography.
“We hope they will find their niche here and learn valuable skills that will lead to their success whether they pursue college or career,” said EHS Principal Alva Reibe.
With the unique El Dorado Promise Scholarship, funded by Murphy Oil Corporation, every graduate of El Dorado High School has the opportunity to attend college!
Celebrating success
This year, El Dorado students have achieved great success in and out of the classroom. Here are just a few of their achievements:
- Over 215 students participated in the Union County Math Competition.
- Wildcat Basketball advanced to the State
Tournament.
- Washington Middle School’s cinematography class, taught by Michael Herren, received the top two awards in the Arkansas Department of Education’s Digital Learning Day video competition.
- BJHS Archery Team won the state championship and will attend the National Archery Competition in Kentucky.
- BJHS Quiz Bowl team won the State Quiz Bowl Tournament.
Supporting Teachers
At El Dorado, we know that student success depends on the quality of our teachers and staff.
“We have a culture here that’s student-centered and teacher supported,” says EHS Biology teacher Angie Parker.
Next school year, the ESD will partner with the New Teacher Center to create a New Teacher Induction Program that will be unlike anything in the state.
We are focused on improving student learning by creating effective teachers. Our goal is to provide new teachers with the support and resources necessary to succeed from their first day to their last. We have hired a program leader who will be responsible for this program.