Principal Sharon Johnson (Tony Jones photos) | ZOOM |

        When Cincinnati schools superintendent Steven Adamowski pointed with pride to improved grades on the district's state report card, he pointed to Parham Elementary. He isn't the only one. President Bush, Education Secretary Rod Paige and the head of the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota have all honored the mostly African-American school in Evanston.

        Last week, Principal Sharon Johnson and the head of Parham's resource center were whisked off to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the education bill, which Mr. Bush signed amid fanfare Tuesday in Hamilton.

        On Thursday, the national president of the United Way came to check out Parham's after-school program.

        Just over two years ago, Parham was one of the worst-performing schools in the district. Students were unruly, attendance was bad and state test scores were poor.

        Parents, teachers and educators say it took a village to turn the school around. Parham was one of Cincinnati Public Schools' first schools to be overhauled.

Johnson gives high-fives to students. | ZOOM |

        Most of the teachers were replaced. The school developed a stronger focus on academics. FamiliesFORWARD, a neighborhood school-based family resource center, offered support services, and Parham's staff welcomed them.

        The FamiliesFORWARD resource center provides up to three social workers a day. More than half of Parham's 473 students attend the resource center's after-school programs, such as homework clubs, test preparation, cooking classes, ballet, basketball and conflict resolution training.

ABOUT PARHAM

• Location: 1835 Fairfax Ave., Evanston.   • Enrollment: 473 (including preschool to eighth grade).   • Racial breakdown: African-American: 94.4 percent; Multiracial: 1.3 percent; White: 4.3 percent.   • Proficiency Tests   Percentage of sixth graders passing test in 1997:   • Citizenship: 12 percent   • Math: 0 percent   • Reading: 29 percent   • Science: 4 percent   • Writing: 65 percent   Percentage of sixth graders passing test in 2000-01   • Citizenship: 88.9 percent   • Math: 56 percent   • Reading: 51.9 percent   • Science: 61 percent   • Writing: 96.6 percent        Source: Parham Elementary

        The after-school program “really gives us a variety for the children,” said parent Cynthia Bell, whose 9-year-old son, Tyler, attends Parham.

        The result? A renewed emphasis on excellence.

        “In the past our school was bad, and you didn't learn anything,” said seventh-grader Antionette Fannon. “But now the staff is tough on us to get a good education. (Ms. Johnson) thinks we're the best school, and she wants us to have high standards.”

        To emphasize that, Ms. Johnson eliminated recess and told preschool teachers to use nap time sparingly. Students and staff must wear blue and white uniforms, so there's a focus on learning and not fashion, Ms. Johnson says.

        “This was an urban neighborhood school, and people washed their hands of it,” Ms. Johnson said. “But we are proving it can be done. We had to stop having such low standards for our children and raise the bar.”

        Walk around the shiny floors and bright hallways, and the school's mission blares from every room.

        In Debbie Kissel's kindergarten room Friday, a group of mostly 5-year-olds rattled off multiplication tables and hollered out the definition for a mammal. Then they named types of mammals and types of birds, and finally identified all 50 states on a map.

        In the background Ms. Johnson called out encouragement, flashed her two thumbs up and showered kids with hugs.

        “Look at my sweethearts,” she said. “I love the way you follow directions.” Then, off to the side: “I'm a cheerleader for education,” she said. “I get so pumped.”

        Her teachers, staff, parents and kids do, too.

        “We empower students through educational excellence,” said special-education teacher Keir Griffith. “We know they can learn.”

        The proof was in the numbers. State proficiency test scores have jumped since the revamp, gaining the school local and national attention.

        Last year, the school received an incentive award of $25,000 from the state for the test score improvements of its sixth graders. The staff also received a monetary award last summer from the district for exceeding its goals on attendance, test scores and grade promotion.

        “It's all of us working together that makes the school work,” said Betti Hinton, president of FamiliesFORWARD.

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