D C Everest Area School District

We’ve dedicated ourselves to equity — removing as many barriers as possible for our students — so that all of our students, no matter their socio-economic status or personal situation, have equitable access to the opportunities we offer. We create multi-dimensional profiles of each student’s strengths, abilities, and potential using a variety of tools to identify students in need of support services as well as those who would benefit from advanced academic opportunities. Our advanced learner screening process identifies those with demonstrated levels of academic competence as well as those who exhibit the potential for high levels of competence but may be underperforming for their ability level — such as twice exceptional and EL students. We lowered costs for all families with smaller, more cost-effective school supply lists and eliminated fees for clubs and sports at our junior high and middle school. We revamped our Fill-a-Backpack-Fill-a-Need program — families no longer need to provide proof of financial need; they just grab a backpack at one of our end-of-summer open houses. To help families in the summer, we provide free breakfast and lunch for any student who stops by one of our cafeterias, and we provide students with easy access to reading and math materials via our Rolling Readers program. We’ve established student pantries in our schools that allow students to freely — and anonymously — visit the pantry for food, toiletries, shoes, and clothing. To ensure every one of our students has access to technology and personalized instructional and learning tools, we provide iPads to every single student in the school district. And we joined the United Way Partnership for Youth to launch an initiative that ensures all students — not just at-risk students — have access to mental health services at their school and that students will have continuity of care as they advance through our school system.