Mission Avenue Elementary Posts Sustained Math Gains Through Hands-on Learning

Active classroom strategies and targeted coaching drive multiyear academic progress at Albuquerque school.

Mission Avenue Elementary School has achieved sustained growth in student achievement over the last three years, driven by targeted instructional strategies and an emphasis on active, hands-on learning, according to school leadership.

The school recorded a 12.2 percentage point increase in math proficiency over the three-year period, placing it among the top elementary schools in Albuquerque Public Schools for math growth. Mission Avenue also achieved sustained growth in English Language Arts.

Principal Jennifer Tooley attributed the progress to structured instructional frameworks and key classroom practices designed to keep students consistently engaged.

A central component of the school’s strategy was the implementation of "differentiated lecture," an approach where students actively participate during instruction time by writing on individual whiteboards, filling in notes, or completing group tasks rather than passively listening.

To address specific learning gaps, the school established math centers during daily intervention periods. The centers focus on hands-on applications, games, and review activities instead of traditional worksheets.

"If students are actively doing a task, they’re engaged in the process of learning," Tooley said, noting that active engagement prevents boredom and helps students maintain focus.

Teachers in upper-grade levels also differentiated instruction by grouping students across classrooms during intervention time, allowing educators to target specific skills with smaller groups.

In addition to math interventions, Mission Avenue relies heavily on structured literacy coaching and dedicated support roles to strengthen reading instruction. The campus has a structured literacy coach, a teaching and learning coach, a magnet coordinator, and high-dosage tutors to work closely with teachers and students needing targeted assistance.

Tooley emphasized that the school's growth is supported by monthly data-focused professional learning communities and regular classroom walkthroughs to provide supportive, non-evaluative feedback.

"Everything that we do is intentional," Tooley said. "I’m most proud that it’s sustained. It’s not just one year we did great. It’s every year we’re incrementally getting better."

Schools Showing Sustained Gains in Math Over the Last Three Years

1. San Antonito: +15.8
2. Mission Avenue: +12.2
3. La Mesa: +12.1
4. John Baker: +10.1
5. Comanche: +10