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Frank J Mitchell Elementary
About
Frank J. Mitchell Elementary School (FJMES) is located in Sparwood, British Columbia (Po Box 345, Sparwood, BC V0B 2G0), nestled in the Elk Valley between Fernie and Elkford. The school serves Kindergarten to Grade 6 and enrolls approximately 370 students. FJMES shares a property with Sparwood Secondary School, which students attend after leaving FJMES. The school emphasizes creating an environment where all students and their families feel welcome, included, accepted, and celebrated.
At a Glance
School type: Public School (Southeast Kootenay)
Education language: English
Religious affiliation: None / Secular
Grades: K-6
Phone: 250 425-7818
Email: jason.sommerfeld@sd5.bc.ca
Principal: Jason Sommerfeld
Programs and Services
Strong Start Strong Start is listed as a program/service to support student development and learning. Indigenous Education The school lists Indigenous Education programs, resources, and initiatives aimed at supporting and integrating Indigenous culture. Student support / counselling and wellness FJMES has a full-time elementary school counselor who provides prevention and intervention strategies (individual, group, and classwork) and connects/educates families about outside agencies and opportunities. The school also lists a Youth Care Worker for student and family support services.
School Culture and Expectations
FJMES says it strives to create an environment that makes all students and their families feel welcome, included, accepted, and celebrated.
Transportation, Parking, and Getting Here
The school website links to a bus schedule, but the provided sources do not include details about drop-off/pick-up, parking, or route information.
Enrollment
Kindergarten registration is online (the school directs families to follow the registration hyperlink for details). For Grades 1–6, the school provides a fillable registration form and notes that a copy of the child’s Birth Certificate or Passport must be provided with the registration package before enrollment can be completed.
Location
Frank J Mitchell Elementary Reviews
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Academic Learning of Frank J Mitchell Elementary
36.85
Academic Performance
Academic Performance Score
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades overall score: 37 - below the district average of 40, trailing by 4 points.
Literacy: 39
Numeracy: 35
Literacy is a relative strength; numeracy has more room to grow.
56.70
Student Commitment to Learning
Student Commitment
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 57 - well above the district public school average of 46, ahead by 11 points.
Students report stronger engagement, effort, and investment in learning than comparable schools, pointing to solid day-to-day learning habits.
54.00
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 54 - above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 4 points.
Students report stronger problem solving, analysis, and independent thinking than comparable schools, suggesting this is a relative strength.
83.90
College and Career Readiness
Readiness for Future
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 84 - well above the province public school average of 53, ahead by 31 points.
Students report stronger preparation for future learning, transitions, and career pathways than comparable schools, which points to a solid readiness profile.
Academic Scores by School Year
Clustered Academic Score Trends
School year trend view: All Grades (combined Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where available). In 2024-2025, literacy is 39, numeracy is 35, and overall is 37.
Compared with 2019-2020, the overall score improved by 6 points.
In the latest year, literacy is the strongest of the three measures at 39, while numeracy is lowest at 35.
Across the available years, literacy improved by 8 points since 2019-2020, while numeracy improved by 4 points since 2019-2020.
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024-2025, academic performance is 37, student commitment to learning is 57, critical thinking is 54, and college and career readiness is 84.
The strongest current area is College and Career Readiness at 84, while Academic Performance is lowest at 37.
College and Career Readiness shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 18 points since 2021-2022.
Additional Information
Data is regularly updated to reflect the latest available academic scores and assessments from official school records.
Character and Wellbeing
57.33
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 57 - well below the province public school average of 68, trailing by 11 points.
Students report weaker participation in school and community life than comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen voice, involvement, and connection.
58.43
Health
Health
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 58 - well below the district public school average of 64, trailing by 6 points.
Students report weaker physical and emotional well-being than comparable schools, making health and well-being an area to watch closely.
70.00
Work Ethic
Work Ethic
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 70 - below the district public school average of 73, trailing by 3 points.
Students report weaker effort, persistence, and responsibility than comparable schools, suggesting work habits are an area to strengthen.
Character and Wellbeing Score Change Over Years
Character and Wellbeing Score Change Over Years
Grade 4 trend view. In 2024/2025, Civic Engagement is 57, Health is 58, and Work Ethic is 70.
The strongest current area is Work Ethic at 70, while Civic Engagement is lowest at 57.
Health shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 10 points since 2019/2020.
Resources
51.67
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 52 - well below the district public school average of 65, trailing by 13 points.
Instructional resources are rated less positively than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen access or quality.
Resources Score Change Over Years
Resources Score Change Over Years
Grade 4 trend view. In 2024/2025, Learning Resources is 52.
Learning Resources shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 10 points since 2019/2020.
School Culture
53.41
Academic Orientation
Academic Orientation
Showing latest available year: 2020-2021. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 53 - in line with the province public school average of 53, within 0 points.
Students report an academic orientation broadly similar to comparable schools.
68.52
Relationships
Relationships
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 69 - well below the district public school average of 78, trailing by 9 points.
Students report weaker relationships among peers, staff, and the school community than in comparable schools, suggesting connection and trust are areas to strengthen.
53.13
Safety
Safety
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 53 - below the district public school average of 58, trailing by 5 points.
Students report a weaker sense of physical and emotional safety than in comparable schools, making this an area that deserves close attention.
School Culture Score Change Over Years
School Culture Score Change Over Years
Grade 4 trend view. In 2024/2025, Relationships is 69 and Safety is 53.
The strongest current area is Relationships at 69, while Safety is lowest at 53.
Relationships shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 20 points since 2019/2020.
Teachers and Teaching Environment
54.55
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 55 - below the province public school average of 58, trailing by 3 points.
Teachers are rated less positively for instructional quality, knowledge, and professional practice than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen this area.
Teachers and Teaching Environment Score Change Over Years
Teachers and Teaching Environment Score Change Over Years
Grade 4 trend view. In 2024/2025, Knowledge and Skills of Teachers is 55.
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 3 points since 2020/2021.