Clarksville School Splits Up Boys, Girls

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - An elementary school in Clarksville is trying a new strategy to help improve test scores.

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Norman Smith Elementary School has divided two fourth-grade classes into a girls-only class and a boys-only class.

School officials said they made the change after three weeks ago after they said their boy students were not doing as well in their curriculum as the girl students.

The change was made after teacher Woody Burton suggested the idea, which was then approved by administrators.

"We're differentiating instruction, the way we teach the curriculum, the way we teach the classes is different, but the classes, the material that's covered, is the same," said Elise Shelton, director of communications at Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools.

The change came just after the release of the school's first benchmark test data. Burton said he didn't like what he saw and decided to do something about it.

"I'm not afraid to go scrap this lesson plan. Let's do something completely different tomorrow because I want the best," said Burton.

Before making the change, school representatives sent out letters to parents hoping for reaction.

"We've had floods of calls from parents saying how supportive they are," said Shelton. "They're loving it. They've seen a big difference, a positive difference in their student."

Fourth grade student Hunter Meeks approves the change because he likes the competition.

"We’re doing bigger problems, and we're trying to beat the girls because we're doing three-digit problems in division, and they’re still probably trying to figure out two digits," said Hunter.

School representatives said they will reevaluate the single-sex classrooms in about six weeks at the end of next quarter. If all goes well, they will consider expanding the concept to other grades and schools as well.

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