Welcome to West Hill Elementary School

Located in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, West Hill School serves approximately 400 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3. Our school stands out in the top 5% of all Connecticut schools for overall test scores, with math and reading proficiency ranking in the top 1%. Our student body is diverse, with 69% minority enrollment, predominantly Asian, compared to the state average of 51%. (Source: Public School Review, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CT Dept. of Education, 2021).

At West Hill School, we create a respectful environment that enables learners to discover and reach their full potential. We are dedicated to a child-centered approach, using differentiated instruction to cater to each student’s needs. The school offers a full-day kindergarten program and a Bright Beginnings program for preschoolers. The Rocky Hill Board of Education has introduced a standards-based report card for elementary grades. This report card assesses students based on specific learning targets, providing detailed insights into their progress for teachers, parents, and students. Our district is committed to understanding how our students learn and finding the best ways to support their development.

Students benefit from a range of support services such as reading and math specialists, an English Learner (EL) program, a school psychologist, a social worker, occupational therapists, a BCBA, a physical therapist, special education teachers, speech and language pathologists, a certified library/media specialist, and various tutors and paraeducators.

Enrichment opportunities are available before, during, and after school, including math and science clubs, art, running, martial arts, a newcomer’s club, adaptive programs for students with special needs, and a READ therapy program.

Our teachers collaborate to support at-risk and special needs students through the MTSS/SRBI program, which has proven successful in improving student performance. We use the Second Step program for social-emotional learning (SEL) and Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) to foster a positive school climate. Students who exhibit positive behavior receive YES tickets, representing "Respect Yourself, Respect Everyone, and Respect the School." Each week, a student from each classroom is selected to receive a free book, courtesy of our PTO. If the school earns enough YES tickets in a month, we celebrate with a Spirit Day. Our PBIS and SRBI committees meet monthly to review our progress and align with our School Improvement Plan (SIP).

Our SIP focuses on enhancing student achievement, improving school climate, and integrating technology into instruction. We offer ongoing professional development to support staff growth and student learning. Teachers have dedicated planning time and work in grade-level data teams to analyze student achievement and plan future instruction. Regular co-teaching and collaboration support students with special needs, and both formative and summative assessments are used to monitor progress.

We provide numerous opportunities for parents and staff to communicate about school activities and student progress. Events such as the August Meet and Greet, parent-teacher conferences, and Open House allow families to connect with teachers and understand the curriculum. Additional activities like Math, Literacy, and EL Family Nights, art shows, Family Fun Nights, concerts, and PTO functions further enhance home-school communication. Our school social worker also offers special parent programs before and after school.

All staff members are trained in ALICE (Alert- Lockdown- Inform- Counter- Evacuate) strategies to ensure proactive emergency responses.

West Hill School is proud of its Tradition of Excellence. We have been honored as a Blue Ribbon School and named a School of Distinction in 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2023. In addition, we were selected by the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) as the 2019-2020 Elementary School of the Year. We take great pride in our students and teachers and feel privileged to be part of such a wonderful and caring school community!