Challenge

At the beginning of the 2023–24 school year, Eagle Valley Middle School (EVMS) in Carson City, Nevada, faced significant challenges in academic performance, particularly in math, where only 19.5 percent of students were proficient, down from 27 percent the previous year. The school’s English language arts (ELA) proficiency was slightly higher at 35 percent, but with a diverse student population, including 51 percent Hispanic students (many of whom were newcomers with limited English proficiency and academic background) and 16 percent in special education, the school struggled to identify and fill learning gaps effectively. 

Despite dedicated efforts by teachers, there was no unified strategy to address these gaps effectively, leading to a fragmented academic approach. Teachers and students needed a clear, actionable path to measurable improvement.

Solution

To address these challenges, EVMS implemented Edmentum Exact Path during the 2023–24 school year. Dr. Lee Conley, principal at EVMS, along with Lois Linehan, dean of students, worked to ensure that the implementation used a systematic approach integrating Exact Path into the advisory period as to not disrupt core subject instruction. Now in the 2024–25 school year, the strategy has grown to include doubling the advisory time dedicated to Exact Path to two sessions per week and providing teacher-directed targeted interventions for students in the 10th-20th percentile, leveraging data-driven practices.

“We thought that [Exact Path] was a very good way for us to get a common theme and a common language and a common program across the school that we could monitor, and we could hold people accountable for as well, but then that we could celebrate,” Dr. Conley explained.

Supporting Students with Varied Needs

Exact Path’s adaptability allowed EVMS teachers to address individual student deficits effectively, especially for those with significant language barriers or special education needs. Teacher buy-in was fostered through regular data reporting and targeted training sessions that focused specifically on supporting the needs of middle school teachers and students. Edmentum’s customer success consultant played a crucial role by providing differentiated training and ongoing support tailored to both individual teachers and specific school needs.

“Exact Path made it easy for us,” Dr. Conley described. “It identified the skills for us, and then it created a pathway. And all the teachers really have to do is watch the kids go through that and support them on those pathways and then use the resources to help.”

Mrs. Linehan echoed those sentiments, “It identified the student’s deficits, so that was one less thing for our teachers to try to identify. It [Exact Path] supported them to fill in those holes so that when they got to their actual content class, they’re a little more equipped for what they’re about to learn.”

Motivating Students and Teachers to Drive Them Toward Success

Students were engaged through a range of incentives, including Trophies for skill mastery, monthly donut party rewards, and a semester-long movie challenge.

Teachers were also supported and motivated through peer competitions and classroom-based rewards. The school’s data-driven culture was enhanced as teachers began creating classroom graphs and tracking progress across classes and students. Special education teachers utilized Exact Path data for goal setting during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, providing parents with concrete, actionable information about their child’s progress.

Mrs. Linehan commented, “The parents do have a really strong reaction that they’re really appreciative of knowing exactly where their student is at. It’s very specific and easily understood.”
By grouping students strategically and leveraging bilingual resources and paraprofessional assistance, the school successfully created an inclusive learning environment.

Result

The results of implementing Exact Path at EVMS have been overwhelmingly positive. Since the start of the 2024-25 school year, students have mastered over 10,694 unique skills, including 5,718 in math, 3,440 in reading, and 1,536 in language arts. The strategic approach and system of rewards have significantly boosted student motivation and fostered a sense of accomplishment, which is even more evident by students proudly sharing their progress and Trophies with teachers and peers.

Teachers report reduced planning burdens and increased confidence in their ability to support students because the data from Exact Path helped identify precise skill deficits and provided actionable steps for improvement.

“Exact Path is not in place of anything, and it’s not in competition with the content time,” Dr. Conley explained. “So, when the research came out that if you follow these pathways—if the kids get these holes filled in—it’s going to help with the normal content grade-level material. . . .It was very easy for them to implement.” 

EVMS’ adoption of Exact Path underscores the importance of structured, data-focused solutions paired with motivational strategies. By focusing on consistent, incremental improvements and
celebrating successes, Eagle Valley Middle School created a sustainable, inclusive model for educational growth and improved school culture.