• Darby Woods Elementary was built in 1995

• It was named for its proximity to Darby Creek and Darby Farms

• Darby Woods Elementary houses grades kindergarten through 4

• Enrollment is approximately 700 students

• There are 35 teachers, 18 classified staff members, and one administrator at Darby Woods

• The average classroom experience of Darby Woods teachers is 10.9 years

• 23 teachers have bachelor degrees, 12 have masters degrees or beyond, two are nationally board certified

Darby Woods uses the Literacy Collaborative Framework as part of an initiative with the Ohio State University. This initiative is a long-term professional development program designed to provide a comprehensive, school-wide approach to literacy instruction in the primary and intermediate grades. Teachers use an integrated approach to teaching the language arts. Four elements of reading and four elements of writing are provided in daily three hour blocks of time. The reading components are: read aloud to children; shared reading; guided reading in small groups; and independent reading. The writing components are: shared writing; interactive writing (where student and teacher share the pen); guided writing and writing workshop; and independent writing.

An intermediate teacher and primary teacher serve as Literacy Collaborative teachers. These teachers lend support in each classroom at the school through modeling and coaching. Darby Woods has also been selected by OSU as the Scarlet Site, and will partner with the university to train literacy coordinators across the country.

Other programs and features include:

• After-school intervention program in the areas of reading, writing, and math for students in grades 2-4

• OhioReads Take-Home Literacy bags

• A morning and afternoon Y-pack child care program

• Breakfast program

• Safety Patrol

• DARE

• Early Reading Intervention (ERI)

• English as a Second Language (ESL)

• Speech and language tutoring

• Special Education Inclusion program

• Computer lab

• Integrated thematic units

• Team teaching

• Focus on the 3 Rs program

• Student members in PTSA

• Jump Rope for Heart program

• Musical programs

• Safety Patrol

• Caught-You-Being-Good tickets

• PTSA

• Parent and community volunteers

• OhioReads volunteers

• Holiday shop

• Business partnerships with Kinko's, Doctor's West Hospital, and Battelle scientists

• YMCA latchkey program