JW Smith is a small, 'inner city' school, with outstanding staff. In Bemidji, there are a number of elementary schools, which are newer and sport a fancy appearance, yet these schools lack the spirit that JW Smith has. When my children began there, they were both scared and worried about what their
... Read more environment would be like. My son had such a low self-esteem, due to all the bullying he had endured at a different, up-scale elementary school, in town. What I watched was nothing shy of a miracle. My son's teacher worked with him and over the course of a couple months, my son completely blossomed and became one of the most sought out people in his class. His teachers worked on his confidence, helping him to see how much he excelled in various areas. His gifts were not only noticed, but acted upon and they sought out ways to help him flourish. My daughter's story is also a testimony to the quality of education provided at J.W. Smith. My daughter struggles with reading, as she has a visual disability. Early on, I spoke to her teachers about my concerns for her. They didn't blow me off, but rather, took time to explain to me how they would watch her and evaluate her as she developed. By first grade, it was finally time to get her some screaning. This was an emotional time for me, and the staff took the time to help me with my fears and concerns. They talked to me at length and explained the evaluation process. My anxiety was lowered ten-fold. Through collaborative work between school officials, doctors and myself, we were able to come up with a diagnosis for my daughter and get her the services she would need to start succeeding in reading. My daughter has to work very hard, and there is endless support for her. When she feels frustrated, she has staff members right there, ready to cheer her on and help her see that she is so much more than just a lable or a diagnosis. She is extremely creative, so they started a young writer's club where the kids can get help putting their ideas into stories. They help the students who struggle with reading and spelling to focus on their creative gift, while assisting them with their grammer and the technical aspects of writing. There is no tollerance of teasing children or puttting them down. All and all, my daughter's confidence in herself continues to grow and her belief that she can eventually catch up to her peers grows stronger, as her skills improve. When she first started, she could barely read a single word. Now, she is in fourth grade and is almost caught up with her grade level. I have no doubt that my daughter will continue on to become a strong reader. The staff at this school truly nurture the children and encourage them to spread their wings and take flight in the direction of their dreams. I would recommend this school to everyone. It is schools like this, which truly embrace the ideals of the education system... where young minds are fed and nourished, encouraged to grow and develop, as well as believe in their ability to create success in their own life. Read less
* In 2007-2008 Minnesota used the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment-II (MCA-II) to test students in reading in grades 3 through 8 and 10, in math in grades 3 through 8 and 11, and in science in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school. The results for reading and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles. The MCA-II is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Minnesota. Students must pass the grade 10 reading and grade 11 math MCA-II exams in order to graduate from high school. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.
Student enrollment:
330
Students per teacher:
17
Full-time teachers:
20
Number of classrooms:
13
Arts
Art
Music
Choral
Special Education
Emotionally Challenged, Learning Differences, Occupational Therapists, Title I
Vocational Education
Phys Ed
*The resources listed are programs that the institution is staffed to support. Staffing for a program does not guarantee that it will be offered. This content is provided by the institution and may be incomplete. The institution may offer programs not listed here. Please contact the school directly for additional details.
Advanced Placement
AP classes are college-level classes offered at the high school level. Once a student completes an AP class and passes a final comprehensive examination conducted by the College Board, the student earns college credit for the course. AP classes are specific and not to be confused with other higher-level classes such as honors classes.
Before/After School
"Extended day" programs where the school day is extended before and after school to accommodate working parents. These programs should not be confused with common after school clubs or athletic activities.
Gifted and Talented
A school system may identify 10% to 15% or more of its student population as gifted and talented. A brief description of each area of giftedness or talent as defined by the Office of Gifted and Talented:
general intellectual ability or talent - high intelligence test score (usually two standard deviations above the mean), and high levels of vocabulary, memory, abstract work knowledge and abstract reasoning;
specific academic aptitude or talent in one area such as mathematics or language arts;
creative and productive thinking, the ability to produce new ideas;
leadership ability, the ability to direct individuals or groups to a common decision or action;
visual and performing arts, special talents in visual art, music, dance, drama, or other related studies;
psychomotor ability, such as practical, spatial, mechanical, and physical skills.
Vocation/Technical Curriculum
Vocational and/or technical courses offered within a comprehensive school, usually a senior high school.
Special Education Classes
A school or program within a school that provides services and training to students with moderate to severe mental and/or physical disabilities.
Adult Education Classes
Programs offering GED or equivalent courses for adults within regular schools, whether classes are held during evening or daytime schedules.
English as Second Language
English language classes for students whose first language is not English.
Bemidji schools — Smith Elementary School is located at 1712 America Avenue Nw, Bemidji MN 56601. 1712 America Avenue Nw is in the 56601 ZIP code in Bemidji, MN The school district for Smith Elementary School is the Bemidji Independent School District 31. Smith Elementary School is a Public school that serves grade levels K - 5.
School information provided by OnBoard Informatics Copyright (c) 2008. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
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Test Score Ratings
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