Rising up: Stories from our schools

The “Rising up” section of the report goes beyond the numbers to profile schools and programs where students have experienced success. Our goal is not to highlight them as “exceptional,” but rather to help us all learn from their practices.

This year, the “Rising up” stories reflect A+ Schools’ focus on the urgent task of improving student attendance. We look at attendance from two sides. First, what does it take—by families, schools, and communities—to get students to school? Second, how do schools address students’ well-being and learning needs to become places where they want to be?

Read on to find out how:

• A teacher at Pittsburgh Greenfield PreK-8 develops students’ literacy skills and knowledge in the crucial year of 4th grade, and the district plans to boost reading achievement for all

• The Hill District branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh takes a community-based approach to literacy

• Pittsburgh Sunnyside PreK-8 has maintained an algebra class for 8th graders until recently

• A view from the business community on the state of math education

• After the Covid-19 pandemic, the counselor at Pittsburgh South Brook 6-8 and other staff worked to bring students back to school and rebuild community

We thank everyone who participated.