Fletcher Schools see improvement

(This is the third in an ongoing series by The Constitution in looking at the state of Oklahoma education.)

Fletcher public schools have seen improvement in the Oklahoma school report cards from the 2022 /2023 to 2023/2024 school year.

Fletcher Elementary school was ranked with a D overall for the 2022-2023 school year, lower than the state average of a C. In that school year, 42 percent of Fletcher Elementary students met or exceeded state standards. The academic growth portion of the school report card also showed that only 30 percent of students made progress between state standardized tests.

For the 2023-2024 school year, Fletcher elementary school was ranked overall with a C, just slightly under the state average. Along with the overall grade of the school rising, academic growth and achievement rates also grew, with 44 percent of students now meeting or exceeding state standards.

Fletcher Middle school also saw improvement in overall grade between the school years, also achieving a grade letter higher overall in the 2023-2024 school year versus the 2022-2023. The middle school also saw around $3,000 more spent per student, along with attendance rates growing from 80 percent of students in good standing to 91 percent.

Fletcher high school also saw improvement. While the school was ranked overall with a C for both years, the average grade of the school rose by two percentage points, along with assessment performance schools rising by eight percent.

One key issue for Fletcher, and for many schools around the state, according to Superintendent Amanda Grimes, is chronic absenteeism. While the elementary and high school both had absenteeism rates grow, the middle school saw a drop in chronic absenteeism of over 10 percent.

“Our administration does a great job of reaching out to parents and making sure there’s a two way communication there,” she said.

“Attendance is an area where we have struggled … that has been one of our main obstacles, especially since COVID,” Grimes continued. “And so just improving that parent teacher communication, school parent communication, has made a big difference.”

“Additionally, our teachers and staff do a great job of meeting the kids where they are and then taking the kids to where they need to be. We have a very supportive community.” Grimes said of the improvement with test scores and attendance rates between the schools.

Grimes pointed to team work between faculty, staff, administrators, and parents as the reasoning for overall improvement in the schools.

“Our teachers, our administration, and our parents, it is teamwork 100 percent — every component of the school report card. Every characteristic of a public school system is founded in whatever teamwork and relationship you have. It truly takes a village.”

Grimes also credits some changes in scheduling as the reasoning for the middle school improvement, including rotating classes so that children receive a full hour in every subject.

After being the junior high and high school principal for the prior 11 years, Grimes took on the role of Superintendent in 2024. Her main focus now is increasing teacher morale and school pride.

“My goal is to make sure they feel valued, and not just the teachers, but the teacher aides, the cafeteria staff, the janitors. It takes a village,” Grimes reiterated.

Grimes is also sure to focus on the facilities of the school, especially as part of raising school pride.

“Facility wise, we’ve done some upgrades, some remodeling. We’ve replaced the flooring and painted in the high school, and that completely changed the feeling of it. We’ve put a wrap on the windows of the gymnasium, trying to brand it, bring back school pride. I want to be able to look out across our campus and know our colors are black and white, we’re the wildcats. Just bringing that back, that sense of belonging, that sense of entity, old-fashioned school pride.”

One area where Fletcher shines, according to Grimes, is the post secondary school opportunities offered. The school report card reflects this as well, with Fletcher High School ranked with an A for post secondary opportunities.

“I feel like we do a great job of reaching the kids where they are,” said Grimes.

“What I mean by that is not every kid is college bound, but every kid is going to be a citizen in our community. And so for the to be successful, we need to find out what success should look like for them and help them achieve that, whether that’s being college bound, whether it’s career tech, whether it’s getting them an internship their junior and senior year, whatever it is that will help them become successful and become a contributing member of society, that is our job, and we do a great job at that,” said Grimes.

“We may be small, but we’re going to do what we can to find the opportunity that fits that kid.”