FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Students at two Franklin Special District schools are making academic gains that have earned national attention. Moore Elementary and Franklin Elementary have been named i-Ready Super Stretch Schools by Curriculum Associates, recognizing exceptional reading growth at Moore and mathematics growth at Franklin during the 2025–2026 school year.
Moore earned the distinction for the third consecutive year, with 56% of students meeting their individualized “stretch growth” targets in reading. Franklin earned its second Super Stretch School recognition, with 57% of students reaching their stretch targets in math. Franklin previously received the distinction for reading growth.
i-Ready Super Stretch Schools are schools with at least 200 students in which 55% or more of students meet their stretch growth targets in reading or mathematics. These ambitious yet attainable goals are individualized to each student’s grade level and performance at the beginning of the year.
Meeting stretch growth targets helps students who begin below grade level move toward grade-level proficiency. For students already performing at or above grade level, the targets support continued growth toward advanced proficiency. The percentages reflect how many students reached these challenging growth goals, rather than how many passed a test.
Moore Elementary School
At Moore Elementary, Principal Dr. Amanda Muniz, Ed.D., attributes the school’s sustained reading growth to daily explicit, direct instruction in each classroom, paired with a strong emphasis on responding to reading through writing. “By intentionally teaching essential reading skills and giving students consistent opportunities to demonstrate their comprehension through written responses, we strengthen their literacy skills and deepen their understanding of text,” Muniz said. “That combination lays the groundwork for students to not just meet but exceed expectations.”
Moore also celebrates students’ progress toward classroom and school-wide learning goals. Classes receive rewards and recognition during school announcements for completing 100 i-Ready lessons with 100% accuracy. Those accomplishments contribute to a school-wide goal of completing 10,000 lessons with perfect scores.
“From hallway dance parties to popcorn and pajamas, these celebrations give students something to look forward to as they work toward a shared goal,” Muniz said. “Their enthusiasm and hard work have helped us reach our school-wide goal not just once but twice each school year.”
Franklin Elementary School
At Franklin Elementary, Principal April Carrigan, Ed.D., credits her school’s growth in math to strong daily classroom instruction that challenges students to think critically, solve problems, and explain their reasoning. “We want students to understand the mathematics behind what they are doing and be able to explain their thinking,” Carrigan said. “That starts with intentional, high-quality instruction in every classroom, every day.”
Teachers, coaches and specialists regularly review student performance to identify learning gaps, determine which skills need additional attention and adjust instruction. Carrigan said collaboration across grade levels and staff roles helps turn those findings into support for students. “All students are our students, and their success is a shared responsibility,” Carrigan said. “Our teachers, coaches, and specialists share strategies, discuss student progress, and work together to strengthen instruction. We celebrate the growth we see while continuing to ask what we can do better to help every child reach their potential.”
What is i-Ready?
i-Ready is a digital resource used by FSD that combines assessment and individualized online instruction to help teachers understand student needs and track their progress. Its assessment, now called i-Ready Inform and formerly known as i-Ready Diagnostic, adjusts question difficulty based on students’ responses to identify their strengths and areas needing additional support. In the FSD, students use the online platform for reading (grades 2-8) and math (K-8). Teachers use this information to plan instruction, provide targeted support and monitor learning throughout the year.
Classroom teaching remains central, with i-Ready providing additional information and practice to support students’ progress.
Understanding Growth Goals
Students receive two individualized growth targets based on their initial assessment:
- Typical Growth represents the average annual progress of students who begin at a similar grade and skill level.
- Stretch Growth is a more ambitious target designed to move students toward grade-level proficiency or help them advance beyond it.
Franklin Elementary and Moore Elementary are member schools of Franklin Special District, a prekindergarten through eighth-grade public school district serving families in historic Franklin, Tennessee.
