Hillsboro Elementary School Rated Among the Top 42 Schools In West Virginia

By Tim Walker

The WV Department of Education recently declared Hillsboro Elementary to be a Success School based upon last year’s standardized test results. Principal Joseph Arbogast of Hillsboro Elementary explains.

‘’Last year based on the end of the year standardized testing Hillsboro’s scores they were ranked as a success school’’ said MR. Arbogast. “It is a very high honor. The teachers, students worked very hard towards that.”

MR. Arbogast credits his great group of teachers.

“You see it every day I go into their class rooms and I talk to them in the hallway, I see them after school” said MR. Arbogast. “The strength I see with the teachers here at Hillsboro Elementary is that a lot of these teachers are from Hillsboro or have a tie to Hillsboro. These students are their kids I mean they are part of their community. It’s their neighbors that their kids play with. You can see that very evident that the care and compassion that the teachers at every grade level here at Hillsboro Elementary have for their students. It’s really remarkable.”
Hillsboro Elementary was the only school in Pocahontas County to be recognized as a “Success School” for last year’s standardized test results.

Mr. Arbogast is hopeful that Hillsboro Elementary School will repeat as a “Success School” in this year’s standardized test results. This year’s tests, which will begin shortly, will be somewhat different.

“There is a new standardized test that’s come out this year” said Mr. Arbogast. It’s brand new statewide format’s a little different the way the test is given via computer. They were on computer last year but the layout is a lot different.”

Despite the new format, Hillsboro Elementary School is busily preparing for this new test.

“We’re getting ready for this new end of year state assessment” said Mr. Arbogast. “It’s new to all of us, the principals, the teachers, we’re all trying to get trained on it and get up to speed as quick as we can on it so we can get the students ready. We have a lot of practice tests students can take to get used to the format. And we’re hoping that gets us more prepared for that.”

It is evident that Mr. Arbogast is proud of his teachers at Hillsboro elementary School.

“All of our teachers here, Mrs. Tankersley, Mrs. Hardesty, Miss Alderman, they’re amazing teachers, they truly are” said Mr. Arbogast. “I’ve watched them. They care, they’re good at what they do, they incorporate technology, current events. They do more then they need to do, I mean then what’s required of them. I’ve talked to quite a few teachers and they are three of the best. Those 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students at Hillsboro Elementary are getting a very fine substantial education and I am proud of all three of those teachers. They do an amazing job.”

Mr. Arbogast is also proud of his school and community.

“It’s a great school, an amazing community, a lot of support” said Mr. Arbogast. “And you can tell it is a true community school.”