Over the past few months, some elementary students across Weakley County have stayed a little later after the final bell rang. They’ve gathered in small groups with teachers who knew their names, their struggles, and their potential, and dug in to improve their reading and writing skills through Camp Accelerate.
Launched in the spring semester, Camp Accelerate is an after-school program serving second and third grade students at Martin Elementary, Martin Primary, Dresden Elementary, Gleason School, and Greenfield School. But this is not your traditional after-school program. Camp Accelerate isn't about catching up, it's about getting ahead.
The program's approach is simple in concept but powerful in practice: before a new skill or concept is introduced in the classroom, Camp Accelerate students preview the material first. When their teacher introduces the material to the full class, it isn't brand new, it's already familiar. Students walk in with a foundation already built, which means they can engage more deeply, participate more confidently, and grow faster.
The program puts 87 students district-wide into small, focused groups where teachers can personalize instruction around reading and writing skills. Each teacher collaborates closely with students' classroom teachers, ensuring the preview instruction is precisely aligned to what's coming and tailored to each student's individual needs.
The program is funded through two competitively awarded grants secured by the district’s Grants Director: a Tutoring Innovation Grant totaling $74,600 and an Early Literacy Grant totaling $24,500.
"These were competitive awards, and the fact that we were selected speaks to the strength of our district's vision for student success," shared Angie Rushing, Grants and Special Projects Director for Weakley County Schools. "Knowing these grants are giving our students opportunities they deserve, and watching those opportunities pay off, is a testament to why we do what we do every day."
The outcomes are showing up in the data and in the classroom. At Martin Elementary, over half of Camp Accelerate students improved their scores between the initial and final MVPA assessments. At Dresden Elementary, 65 percent of students showed significant growth in their weekly reading comprehension progress. But educators across the district agree that the most meaningful shift has been something not directly measured on a test: confidence.
"Another positive that cannot be measured in test scores is the increase in our students' confidence levels in the classroom," noted Tiffany Frazier, program lead at Martin Elementary. "They feel more comfortable with the material since we are front-loading information, so their participation in the classroom has improved."
That confidence is exactly what the program is designed to build — and parents are seeing it come home with their kids. Abbie McClure noticed a shift in the way her daughter Falynn approaches her own learning, not as someone working to keep up, but as someone who walks into the classroom already prepared.
"She shared how she now goes back into the text to find evidence to support her ideas, and it was exciting as a parent to hear her clearly explain how she used that strategy during her TCAP writing test," McClure said. "I am so thankful for opportunities like Camp Accelerate to help Falynn build confidence as a reader and writer."
Director of Schools Jeff Cupples noted that the results reflect something core to Weakley County Schools.
"What we are seeing through Camp Accelerate is a testament to the dedication of our teachers and the determination of our students," Cupples emphasized. "These educators are going above and beyond, and our students are rising to meet their expectations, building the ability to take ownership, critical thinking, and resiliency that are at the heart of our Portrait of a Graduate. We are proud of every student who showed up, worked hard, and grew this spring."
Programs like Camp Accelerate are a direct reflection of what Weakley County Schools believes: that every child deserves the time, attention, and support it takes to grow. And in classrooms across Weakley County, that belief is paying off every single day.