Description of the School
Smoky Mountain Elementary School (SMES) is a data-driven school serving 185 students in Pre-K through 8th grade. The school was created in 1956 as a means to consolidate five smaller schools. The school opened with eight classrooms, an administrative office, and a shared cafeteria/gymnasium area. Two portables were later added plus a parking lot, ball field, and a playground. In 2001 construction on a new building and renovations to the existing building
began. Smoky Mountain now has a beautiful campus with fourteen classrooms, administrative office, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and a library/media center.
SMES is located in the southern part of Cocke County Tennessee in the Cosby area. The city of Newport, the county seat, is located in the eastern part of Tennessee. Our demographics, of a mostly Caucasian population (97.8%), are reflective of the community (93% Caucasian). Our faculty and staff is composed of 32 individuals. Of these, 12 are highly qualified instructional professionals and one administrator of various educational background and degrees, including
Ed.S. (8%), Masters (38%), and Bachelors (54%). Because of our small population and various programs offerings, our staff also includes 5 paraprofessionals, six part-time itinerate teachers, and a weekly visit from a registered nurse, occupational therapist, and speech-hearing specialist.
In the past two years, SMES has worked to further meet the student needs beyond the classroom. As a reflection of our county’s nearly 12% unemployment rate, many of our parents finding only seasonal work in near-by Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, poverty is an influence on student’s academic success. Since data undoubtedly correlates with our school’s number of students classified as economically disadvantaged (91.4%), our students receive free breakfast
and lunch each day. We send backpacks of food home on Friday supplied by Second Harvest and the Mission of Hope has adopted our school. They continue to supply every student with backpacks, school supplies in the fall and clothes, food boxes and toys at Christmas time. We have also developed collaborative relationships with community stakeholder to provide money, meals, school supplies, health services, and clothing for students in need. As a school, we continue to draw on our community resources to help students overcome any obstacle impacting learning and achievement.
Smoky Mountain Elementary School (SMES) is a data-driven school serving 185 students in Pre-K through 8th grade. The school was created in 1956 as a means to consolidate five smaller schools. The school opened with eight classrooms, an administrative office, and a shared cafeteria/gymnasium area. Two portables were later added plus a parking lot, ball field, and a playground. In 2001 construction on a new building and renovations to the existing building
began. Smoky Mountain now has a beautiful campus with fourteen classrooms, administrative office, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and a library/media center.
SMES is located in the southern part of Cocke County Tennessee in the Cosby area. The city of Newport, the county seat, is located in the eastern part of Tennessee. Our demographics, of a mostly Caucasian population (97.8%), are reflective of the community (93% Caucasian). Our faculty and staff is composed of 32 individuals. Of these, 12 are highly qualified instructional professionals and one administrator of various educational background and degrees, including
Ed.S. (8%), Masters (38%), and Bachelors (54%). Because of our small population and various programs offerings, our staff also includes 5 paraprofessionals, six part-time itinerate teachers, and a weekly visit from a registered nurse, occupational therapist, and speech-hearing specialist.
In the past two years, SMES has worked to further meet the student needs beyond the classroom. As a reflection of our county’s nearly 12% unemployment rate, many of our parents finding only seasonal work in near-by Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, poverty is an influence on student’s academic success. Since data undoubtedly correlates with our school’s number of students classified as economically disadvantaged (91.4%), our students receive free breakfast
and lunch each day. We send backpacks of food home on Friday supplied by Second Harvest and the Mission of Hope has adopted our school. They continue to supply every student with backpacks, school supplies in the fall and clothes, food boxes and toys at Christmas time. We have also developed collaborative relationships with community stakeholder to provide money, meals, school supplies, health services, and clothing for students in need. As a school, we continue to draw on our community resources to help students overcome any obstacle impacting learning and achievement.