 Highlights
- Since Clovis implemented Pearson Digital Learning
SuccessMaker®, reading scores have
steadily increased throughout the district. For 2002,
Clovis elementary students averaged half a year’s
gain in only 8.75 hours of instruction.
- In 2002, students gained almost half a year (.42)
after only 9.64 hours of instruction in math with
SuccessMaker.
- Barry Elementary School has been ranked as a “High
Performing School” by the state of New Mexico
for the past three years in a row.
School/District Profile
Clovis Municipal School District is located in Curry
County in eastern New Mexico. There are approximately
9,500 students enrolled in 19 sites. The district is
composed of one high school, three junior high schools,
13 elementary schools, one pre-school, and one evening
high school. The district provides a full range of special
education services, including pre-school and enriched
learning programs. Clovis is the fourth largest district
in the state in terms of student population and is committed
to offering the best quality education available.
The student population at Clovis is 47 percent European
American, 40 percent Hispanic American, 11 percent African
American, 2 percent Asian American, and 1 percent Native
American. The nine elementary schools using the SuccessMaker
program have the highest minority populations and poverty
levels in the district. In six of the nine elementary
schools, 80 percent of the school population falls into
the low income category. The mobility rate has increased
over the last three years, and five of the nine elementary
schools are at 50-68 percent. There are 253 Limited
English Proficient (LEP) students involved in the SuccessMaker
program.
Challenges
Clovis was challenged with low test scores and increased
pressures to improve accountability. In addition, the
district had difficulty finding programs that would
provide the data and support needed to help teachers
and students prepare for testing.
The computer labs at Clovis previously had several curriculum-based
programs, but had more of a game-like atmosphere. Along
with a true electronic curriculum, the district needed
a management system in place that would collect valid
data to help teachers.
 Solution
Clovis explored using SuccessMaker based on a recommendation
from its new superintendent, Dr. Neil Nuttall. Since
that time in 1998, the district has been using the program
in all of its Title 1 elementary schools. The program
was implemented in seven elementary schools in November
of 1998, and two more elementary schools have started
using the software within the last three years.
In grades K-6, 2,154 students use SuccessMaker to enhance
reading and math. Courses include Discover English,
Reading Readiness, Initial Reading, Readers Workshop,
Math Concepts and Skills, and Math Concepts and Skills,
Spanish. The district goal is to utilize SuccessMaker
software to help students increase test scores. Clovis
currently has grades 3-6 take the Terra Nova Test visiting
the lab four days a week, working a minimum of 12 minutes
in reading and math per session.
SuccessMaker software combines research-based instruction
with a multimedia presentation to create a comprehensive,
interactive curriculum. Students are enrolled according
to STAR testing based on 1) the previous year’s
state testing levels, or 2) by the previous year’s
final grade level reached in SuccessMaker. Once enrolled,
the software goes through a 2-3 week placement period
and places the students at the appropriate functional
level. With ongoing assessment and adaptation to student
needs, learning is completely individualized.
Teachers spend their lab time monitoring students, reviewing
reports, planning interventions, and utilizing the courseware
to support teaching in the classroom. Administrators
monitor progress through visiting labs throughout the
school year and reviewing data twice a year—once
at mid-year and once at year’s end. As they become
more familiar with the SuccessMaker courses, teachers
gain more and more facility in leveraging instructional
strategies back and forth between the classroom and
the lab.
Along with advancing student learning, students simply
enjoy using SuccessMaker courseware during their school
day. Teresa Falk, Title 1 Technical Specialist for Clovis,
says, “SuccessMaker has benefited the students
and has helped them increase their reading comprehension
and problem solving skills with the various presentation
styles in the program. Students like the speed games
the most.”
Falk says the planning for and implementation of SuccessMaker
were key factors that have made the program successful
at Clovis. “We had strong support from the district
and Pearson Digital Learning: a district person in place
to maintain the computers and conduct teacher training,
and a lab manager in place for each lab. This created
a more relaxed atmosphere for the teachers because of
the overall support in place for them.”
Results
SuccessMaker has helped raise math and reading scores
across the district.
- In 2002, Clovis elementary students averaged a
.49 gain in reading after 8.75 hours of instruction.
- In 2002, elementary math scores improved district-wide,
resulting in a .42 year gain after 9.64 hours of instruction.
- Barry Elementary School has been using SuccessMaker
for five years. For the past three years, the state
of New Mexico has ranked Barry as a “High Performing
School.”
The 2002 reading gains for Clovis
Municipal School District show fourth graders making
substantial gains in reading. Total gains across the
grades were achieved in less than nine hours of instruction.
In 2002, math students at Clovis demonstrated
more increased gains through grade level with sixth
graders making the highest gains. Overall, this was
accomplished in less than 10 hours of instruction.
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