Culligan Elementary students and principal show ‘data talk’ approach tied to improved scores

Culligan Elementary students and Principal Jordan Livermore presented a student-led ‘data talk’ to the Forsyth County Schools board on May 12, saying the practice helped reverse multi-year declines and sustain gains in reading and math.

Derek Hershey, associate superintendent of human resources, introduced the spotlight and invited Livermore’s team to show how classrooms use iReady and CCRPI charts to make growth visible to students and families. Livermore told the board the process began in 2023 and involved showing students their assessment graphs, explaining targets and tracking progress over three benchmark administrations.

“After every assessment, they see their graph, how far their graph has grown, and how much further do we need to go,” Livermore said. He described a system of stickers and visual targets that students earn for hitting ‘typical’ and ‘stretch’ growth lines, and said the approach has made pupils “take the test seriously” and believe they can improve.

Presenters showed a projected-proficiency page that flagged roughly 20 students who would need to improve in language arts and about 20 in math for the school to meet district goals. Livermore said the tool also predicts milestone outcomes and helps teachers and families focus interventions in the weeks before state testing.

Board members praised the work and asked staff to provide visual aids and handouts to principals. The spotlight closed with the board thanking the students and school staff for the demonstration.

The presentation was informational; no action was requested or taken.