Norfolk Public Schools has 3 Elementary Schools Named Bright Spot Schools for Excellence in Literacy by The 74
Grant Elementary, Westside Elementary and Washington Elementary, public elementary schools in Norfolk Public Schools, have been named as Bright Spots schools by The 74, a national nonprofit newsroom covering American education. The recognition places these schools among a select group of schools across the country that are beating the odds in literacy — outperforming expectations for third-grade reading proficiency despite the economic challenges facing many of their students.
“We are proud of the work put in by all of our students, teachers and administrators. Norfolk Public Schools recognizes the importance of literacy for all students to accomplish their goals for the future. The focus of Grant, Washington and Westside on using data to identify where students are in their learning and providing what they need to be successful has led to high levels of achievement for their students. They are truly demonstrating that Nothing Prevents Success!” said Jared Oswald, Director of Teaching and Learning.
The Bright Spots designation is awarded through The 74’s 50-state initiative, which analyzes data from roughly 42,000 public schools to identify schools where third-grade reading proficiency significantly exceeds what would be predicted based on local poverty rates. Five schools per state are recognized each year and highlighted through an interactive map and accompanying reporting.
What Makes These Schools Stand Out
At Grant Elementary, early literacy remains a top priority as staff work together to build strong reading foundations for every student. Families are encouraged to be active partners in the learning process through take-home books that students can read and celebrate both at home and at school.
Each Wednesday, general education teachers, Title reading specialists, English Language teachers, and special education teachers collaborate in professional learning communities to review student progress monitoring, intervention results, and grade-level classroom data. Through this teamwork, educators align curriculum and instructional decisions while identifying and addressing learning gaps for individual students and groups. Their dedication to student success is evident in the care, commitment, and heart they bring to supporting every child’s growth.
Grant Elementary serves approximately 200 students in grades K-4.
At Westside Elementary, having a diverse population of learners can present some challenges. One of the best ways they have been able to serve this population is through MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports). Their MTSS team meets every six weeks to review data and make recommendations on any students who are struggling. That data then serves as the guide as they work through interventions. Likewise, the way they utilize their small group intervention time is critical to success. During small group reading and math, all students are split up by their unique needs. They also stagger the intervention period so they can focus on one grade level at a time. By designing the schedule in this way, they are able to organize students into groups between the classroom teacher, Title 1 teacher, English language teacher, Resource teacher (SPED) and paras. It is because of these unique groupings that they are able to zero in on student needs and take the data from those interventions back to the MTSS meetings for evaluation. In addition to the MTSS process and intervention schedule, Westside Elementary is privileged to have excellent teachers, support staff, parents, and students.
Westside Elementary serves approximately 200 students in grades K-4.
At Washington Elementary, a strong commitment to teaching every student the core curriculum helps build the foundation to be successful, and then utilizing data to help intervene individually allows our students to fill gaps and grow each and every year. The dedication of staff, students, and families continues to be a leading factor in the success of Washington Elementary School. Another factor in their success is that Washington Elementary staff believes in building relationships to not only allow the students to learn to read and write but to be great citizens of our community. Janet Sanchez Magana, a recent 2026 graduate of Norfolk High School and an alumnus of Washington Elementary, said, “Washington Elementary School didn’t just give me lessons in Reading and Math; it gave me the foundation for how I learn and how I connect with others.”
Washington Elementary serves approximately 197 students in grades K-4.
To learn more about the Bright Spots project and explore the interactive map.
