Success by Eight Program

Mantua is one of seventeen schools in Fairfax County implementing the Success by Eight program. The Success by Eight program, an early childhood initiative in Fairfax County Schools, provides a customized school experience for children in preschool to second grade. Each classroom provides quality early childhood practices such as: flexible grouping and differentiated instruction for learners at all levels of knowing, and ongoing assessment that guides daily instruction. Each school offers a variety of options as to the way they organize the grade levels, with many teachers working with students more than one year, and full-day kindergarten opportunities.

Using multi-age classrooms, flexible grouping and specialist support, the Success by Eight program at Mantua organizes children into K-1-2 groupings to meet individual student needs. Implementation of this program allows Mantua to offer full day kindergarten. Our children are grouped into K-1-2 families. Some families have K-1 classes, some 1-2, and others single grade classroms. All families are supported by the specialists in the building (Reading, Learning Disabilities, ESOL, Technology, and Total Communications). By pulling small groups of students for skill, interest or cooperative groupings, teachers are able to meet a wider range of student needs.

The Success by Eight Team meets weekly. Teachers plan curriculum, share strategies, discuss developmental skill levels, and plan activities that promote student learning. Each family has weekly meetings in addition to the whole Success by Eight Team meetings.