Hamilton Elementary School
Welcome to Hamilton Elementary School!
We welcome Port Angeles pre-schoolers through sixth graders to Hamilton Elementary School, 1822 West Seventh Street. If you have any questions, please call 360.452.6819.
Our Mission
We will ensure that all students continuously and measurably increase their academic and citizenship skills.
| Hamilton Statistics | 2008-09 |
2007-08 |
| Enrollment | 368 |
353 |
| Smallest Class | 17 |
22 |
| Largest Class | 29 |
29 |
| Average Class Size | 23 |
24 |
| Classroom Teachers | 18 |
17.5 |
| Support Staff | 2 |
1.9 |
| Administrators | 1 |
1 |
| Secretaries | 1.5 |
1.5 |
| Paraeducators | 13 |
13 |
| Custodians | 1 |
1 |
| Food Services | 3 |
3 |
| Volunteers | 75 |
75 |
| Avg. Annual Attendance | 95% |
93.37% |
| Suspended | 54 |
32 |
| Expelled | 0 |
0 |
| Students Promoted | 99.5% |
99% |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 55.59% |
56% |
| Title I/Lap | school-wide |
school-wide |
| Special Education | 62 |
75 |
| Bilingual | 10 |
8 |
Reflections on the 2008-09 School Year
Hamilton Elementary continues to be a high achieving educational organization. WASL data for spring 2009 generated some notable results:
- Fourth grade writing achievement continues to improve modestly each year: Only one student scored at level 1, and there was no gender gap in fourth grade writing.
- Fifth grade science achievement rose by 18 points over the previous WASL.
- 44% of fourth grade students scored at level 4 in reading; no students scored at level 1 for the seventh consecutive year.
- 55% of fourth grade students met all three standards.
- Nearly half of fourth grade math students (49%) scored at WASL level 4
- Level 4 math achievements increased or remained stable at all tested grade levels.
Plans for the 2009-10 School Year
Student Learning. At our school we truly want to see “All Hamilton students reach high standards and graduate prepared with knowledge skills, and abilities to choose a successful future.” Our part of this vision begins with a solid foundation of basic skills. While each category below is important, Reading skills are certainly the gateway to success in all areas. Our focus on Reading achievement at all levels will benefit other academic areas as well.
Reading. We will implement an RTI (Response to Intervention) model school-wide. This model efficiently aligns resources to support learners with scientifically based programs that are frequently monitored to document progress and guide next steps of instruction. It provides early and timely intervention for struggling students. This component will help us to have more special education students be successful as measured by the WASL. Additionally, all teachers will continue to use the Houghton Mifflin Core reading program with an emphasis on comprehension strategies, vocabulary and grammar. Classrooms will continue to use non-fiction magazines along with WASL stem questions to further student understanding of informational text.
Writing. COS (content, organization, style) is an area of focus. All teachers will continue to use best instructional writing practices i.e. adopted curriculum, anchor charts, review and use of WASL released items,
Math. Teachers are in the third year of a math adoption. Fidelity of implementation will be monitored closely. New math standards will be implemented this year and shared with parent/students. A renewed emphasis will be placed on basic facts at several grade levels.
Science. Teachers will continue to use the FOSS science kits and follow the district assessment schedule. The science notebook strategy will continue in all classrooms as a way for students to communicate their thinking
Professional Development. Like other District schools, Hamilton seeks to develop a more comprehensive and formalized structure of interventions for students. To meet this goal, this year Hamilton is implementing a Response to Intervention (RTI) system to provide varying levels of support to all students based on need. Our professional development will focus on this effort as well as all content areas.
School Climate. At Hamilton Elementary staff members are able and excited to provide for the needs of all kinds of students. The core of our belief is that students are best served in and around their assigned basic education classrooms as much as possible. This philosophy of including students in regular instruction with support, as much as possible, guides many of our student tutorial decisions. Our goal is to provide a continuum of opportunities from which students may benefit as their needs are identified.
Hamilton partners with the Hamilton PTO and the Port Angeles Education Foundation to provide a number of enrichment activities to our school. These are scheduled to include: 1) Science workshops with the Olympic Park Institute, 2) Performances by organizations such as the Book-It Theatre and Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre. Additionally, our staff, parents, and community partner to provide opportunities such as Attendance Incentives, The Million Word Challenge, storytelling sessions, math and reading nights, a bike safety course, the worm bin composting project, and family nights at school. Hamilton will host a series of enrichment workshops and courses during January and February. We have tentative commitments to include knitting and chess activities. We are interested in providing language and culture classes as well.
How You Can Help
Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. But not all children learn in the same way at the same time. The parents, friends of Hamilton students and our community are all instrumental in providing the additional support that makes learning at Hamilton motivating and rewarding. We need your support to continue our rich history of an elementary school that cares for kids and celebrates success. Please call us at 360.452.6818.
Use and Condition of Building
Hamilton Elementary School is the third largest elementary school in the district, built in 1956, with modernizations and additions in 1978. The facility supports kindergarten through grade five classrooms, as well as outdoor fields for district and community recreation. The physical evaluation of this educational facility is rated 41.5% based on a January 7, 2008 study and survey by BLRB Architects. Facility Use and Conditions Report available at the Port Angeles School District office.
Hamilton Elementary School 4th Grade WASL Trend 2006-2009
For more information on Port Angeles School District's Report Card go to: reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us.