Northeast Elementary celebrates success after years of struggle

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH)  – Northeast Elementary in Greenwood is working to maintain a streak of success following years of struggle.

The school struggled with large classroom sizes, kids were constantly coming and going from the school and they were receiving bad grades from the State of Indiana because of it.

“It’s been a journey for sure within our building,” Northeast Elementary School Principal Amy Sander said.

When she started at the school 10 years ago, seven to 10 kids were starting or leaving the school every week.

“It was really difficult for teachers to build relationships with their students and get a handle of exactly where they are,” she said.

560 students were enrolled, more than any other elementary school in Greenwood.

It was time for change.

“As a staff we realized, okay, what’s working, what’s not working?” Sander said.

They started looking at data, established goals for each kids and put similar objectives and language in every classroom.

And everyone in the building started working together.

But even several years after implementing the new strategies, the school received a “D” grade. Parents were calling and asking to move their kids to other schools.

“When a family says they don’t want to be here, it just breaks your heart,” Sander said.

The school stuck with their plan.

“If you’re constantly looking at new things and implementing new things you never really have a chance to see if those things are going to be successful,” Sander said.

They finally did. For the last two years, the school earned an “A” grade.

Total enrollment at the school is now at 378. Around two students are coming and going from the school each week as opposed to the seven or 10 that were doing so a decade ago.

The school still has challenges, nearly 80 percent of their students are on free or reduced lunches.