About Our School
Joel Lang, Principal
Our school is located on the corner of Carlyon Avenue and Henderson Boulevard near Olympia High School. Our service area reaches out to several neighborhoods of southeast Olympia. Because of this proximity, Pioneer is truly a neighborhood school. Safe walking conditions allow many of our students to walk or ride bikes to and from school. Buses and parents transport the rest of our students.
Pioneer School was remodeled in 2007. The remodel included 16 new classrooms, 2 kindergarten classrooms, library with vaulted ceiling space, administration area and a covered entry to the school. Pioneer Elementary School now has wireless Internet access.
Teachers emphasize a strong foundation in a basic skills curriculum. Students often work in cooperative groups with each individual held accountable for learning and work completion. Healthy social/emotional development is also a priority at Pioneer. We are focused on our work as a professional learning community. Part of that work is to fully implement PBIS strategies that promote a solid foundation and set of expectations for our students. Our school-wide efforts on P.A.W.S. (Practice Responsibility, Act Safely, Work with Courage and Show Respect) are important to our collective success.
We enjoy a strong, positive partnership between parents, staff and students where all are valued and respected. We share a focus on serving our learning community so that Pioneer will be a trusting and collaborative community that develops life-long, self directed learners.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
MAP is a district assessment for K-10th-grade students that measures a student's developing skills through a series of questions that adapt to the child’s level of learning. Research on MAP indicates the results are highly accurate. The results help teachers measure growth and determine whether a student may need more support or more challenge.
When students finish their MAP Growth testOpening in a new windowOpening in a new windowOpening in a new windowOpening in a new windowOpening in a new windowOpening in a new windowOpening in a new window, they receive a number called an RIT score for each area they are tested in (reading, language usage, math, or science). This score represents a student’s achievement level at any given moment and helps measure their academic growth over time. The RIT scale is a stable scale, like feet and inches, that accurately measures student performance, regardless of age, grades, or grade level. Like marking height on a growth chart, and being able to see how tall your child is at various points in time, you can also see how much they have grown between tests.
The higher the RIT score, the more achievement the student has in the subject. The student's percentile ranking and conditional growth percentile can show how much the student has achieved in comparison with their peers. You can also refer to the Comparative Data to Inform Instructional Decisions to understand how students are performing relative to other students in the same grade level according to our national norms.
We envision a supportive environment that promotes trust, growth, and achievement of the highest standards. We build our capacity for success through leading-edge programs and operations based on continuous improvement. We have a 100 percent commitment to quality and excellence in all things.
If you would like other information about Pioneer Elementary SchoolOpening in a new window, please call (360) 596-6500.