February 4, 2025
James Madison Elementary School is one of just sixty-nine schools nationwide to be named a 2024 National ESEA Distinguished School in recognition of its extraordinary success in improving student achievement.
James Madison was recognized for excellence in serving special populations of students. The school embraces a unique and diverse student body: nearly 30% of students have disabilities, over 70% come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and just over 20% are English learners. This diversity is one of the school’s greatest strengths, and its inclusive learning environment is central to the success of students.
For the second year in a row, James Madison was rated as “Significantly Exceeds Expectations” on the Wisconsin State Report Card. In 2023-24, only 13% of the state's 2,635 K-5 elementary schools earned this report card rating. These report cards include data on multiple indicators for multiple years across four Priority Areas, including Achievement, Growth, Target Group Outcomes, and On-track to Graduation.
As a school, James Madison especially excels in the area of student growth. This success can be attributed to the strategic use of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that are deeply focused on being data-informed. By analyzing student data and consistently implementing effective instructional practices, strategies, and tools such as Lexia with fidelity, teachers can provide targeted and personalized instruction. This focused approach has directly contributed to significant student growth.
“James Madison has a strong culture of a student-centered approach focused on continuous improvement for each individual student,” said Charity Cartland who has been the Principal at James Madison for the last 7 years. “Through high expectations, inclusive practices, and dedicated staff, James Madison students continue to grow academically year over year.”
As a Title 1-funded school, James Madison was able to hire additional interventionists to support student learning and provide professional development opportunities for staff in Math and Reading differentiated instruction. The daily school schedule includes both Math and Reading intervention blocks that really allow staff to provide individualized instruction.
Principal Cartland will attend the 2025 National ESEA Conference in February to share the successful practices of James Madison and to learn from other recognized schools.
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators—formerly the National Title I Association—has been selecting examples of superior, federally-funded schools through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools program since 1996. This program celebrates schools nationwide that have made significant progress by effectively utilizing ESEA federal funds to enhance student education outcomes.
February 4, 2025
James Madison Elementary School is one of just sixty-nine schools nationwide to be named a 2024 National ESEA Distinguished School in recognition of its extraordinary success in improving student achievement.
James Madison was recognized for excellence in serving special populations of students. The school embraces a unique and diverse student body: nearly 30% of students have disabilities, over 70% come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and just over 20% are English learners. This diversity is one of the school’s greatest strengths, and its inclusive learning environment is central to the success of students.
For the second year in a row, James Madison was rated as “Significantly Exceeds Expectations” on the Wisconsin State Report Card. In 2023-24, only 13% of the state's 2,635 K-5 elementary schools earned this report card rating. These report cards include data on multiple indicators for multiple years across four Priority Areas, including Achievement, Growth, Target Group Outcomes, and On-track to Graduation.
As a school, James Madison especially excels in the area of student growth. This success can be attributed to the strategic use of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that are deeply focused on being data-informed. By analyzing student data and consistently implementing effective instructional practices, strategies, and tools such as Lexia with fidelity, teachers can provide targeted and personalized instruction. This focused approach has directly contributed to significant student growth.
“James Madison has a strong culture of a student-centered approach focused on continuous improvement for each individual student,” said Charity Cartland who has been the Principal at James Madison for the last 7 years. “Through high expectations, inclusive practices, and dedicated staff, James Madison students continue to grow academically year over year.”
As a Title 1-funded school, James Madison was able to hire additional interventionists to support student learning and provide professional development opportunities for staff in Math and Reading differentiated instruction. The daily school schedule includes both Math and Reading intervention blocks that really allow staff to provide individualized instruction.
Principal Cartland will attend the 2025 National ESEA Conference in February to share the successful practices of James Madison and to learn from other recognized schools.
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators—formerly the National Title I Association—has been selecting examples of superior, federally-funded schools through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools program since 1996. This program celebrates schools nationwide that have made significant progress by effectively utilizing ESEA federal funds to enhance student education outcomes.
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