Waynesboro Area School District Case Study
Scaling Success: From Intervention Wins to Tier 1 Gains
How Waynesboro increased kindergarten literacy proficiency by 28%
Structured literacy instruction strengthened Tier 1 reading outcomes, improved K–2 proficiency, and aligned foundational skills instruction across classrooms.
In partnership with RGR, Waynesboro Area School District aligned structured literacy instruction across K–2 classrooms to strengthen foundational skills and improve reading proficiency.
- Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
- 4,090 Students
- 298 Teachers
- 24 Administrators
- 4 Elementary Schools
- 1 Middle Schools
- 1 High Schools
- 56% Socioeconomically Disadvantaged
- 19% Special Education
Waynesboro Area School District transformed early literacy by aligning instruction with the science of reading and integrating Really Great Reading across all K–2 classrooms.
Waynesboro leaders recognized that balanced literacy practices were not consistently building foundational reading skills across K–2 classrooms. Students who appeared to be progressing in kindergarten and first grade often struggled by second grade, while inconsistent instructional practices limited Tier 1 alignment across schools. District leaders needed a stronger structured literacy approach focused on prevention, consistency, and foundational skills instruction.
Waynesboro strengthened foundational skills instruction by embedding structured literacy into daily K–2 classroom routines. Kindergarten proficiency increased by 28%, rising from 54% to 82%, while first-grade benchmark scores increased by 24%, improving from 39% to 63%. Second-grade benchmark performance also increased by 12%, growing from 48% to 60%, reinforcing stronger Tier 1 instruction and more consistent foundational skills instruction across classrooms.
“We realized we couldn’t intervene our way out of the problem. This needed to be in the classroom.”
Waynesboro embedded structured literacy into daily classroom instruction, strengthening foundational skills, improving instructional consistency, and aligning Tier 1 practices across K–2 classrooms.
Waynesboro implemented structured literacy routines across K–2 classrooms to strengthen phonics, decoding, fluency, and foundational reading instruction.
Teachers participated in professional learning focused on orthographic mapping, structured literacy, and aligned instructional routines across grades.
Teachers used student data, grouping tools, and shared instructional materials to target skill gaps and strengthen districtwide instructional alignment.
Waynesboro transformed foundational literacy instruction by embedding structured literacy into daily classroom practice and strengthening Tier 1 consistency across K–2 classrooms. Kindergarten proficiency improved by 28%, first-grade benchmark scores increased by 24%, and second-grade benchmark performance improved from 48% to 60%. Teachers also reported stronger instructional alignment, improved student confidence, and reduced reliance on intervention support following implementation.
See How Districts Like Waynesboro Area School District are Driving Measurable Literacy Growth.