Case study
Building AI-Ready Learners
Pewaukee School District chooses Smartschool to build student agency and transform attitudes toward math.
The Challenge
In 2023, Pewaukee was one of the first districts in the country to publish an AI Guide for Staff and Students to prepare thoughtful and skilled AI-ready learners. Rachel Yurk, Chief Information and Technology Officer, puts it this way, “How do we make AI real for students and useful for teachers, without sacrificing academic integrity or instructional control? If we’re not at the forefront of AI, we’re behind.”
Implementation
7th-grade math teacher, Jessica Weiss, was one of the teachers who used Smartschool in her regular and advanced classes.
Smartschool in the classroom
In-Class Practice - to support learning after new lessons.
Exit Tickets - to check for understanding at the end of class.
Entry Tickets - to see if students were ready for a new topic.
Spiral Reviews - to practice older skills.
Intervention Sessions - to give extra support when needed.
“Smartschool gave us feedback on both sides. Students saw their mistakes in the moment, and I saw exactly where to step in next. It was like having a co-teacher that never got tired.” - Jessica Weiss, 7th Grade Math Teacher
Transforming Student Thinking with AI
Smartschool changed the way students saw math.
“My students used to think math was just right or wrong. Now, they understand that there’s a way to better understand and eventually get the right answer. They’re reflecting on why they got it wrong, and how to get it right.” - Jessica Weiss, 7th Grade Math Teacher.
“I knew it would be red at first, but I wanted to see if I could get it to green on my own.” - one student said.
Students built skills for:
Results
Students used Smartschool on over 100 assignments created by Ms. Weiss. The results were clear:
Score Improvements: Faster, Deeper Gains
90% of Smartschool students met or exceeded grade-level standards.
14% increase in proficiency rate for students using Smartschool compared to other classes.
93% of students improved by at least one level.
“Our Smartschool students scored the highest in the district on their midterm exams.” - Rachel Yurk, Chief Information and Technology Officer
Pewaukee’s case shows what’s possible when a district leads with vision, a teacher leads with care, and AI is used in service of students.
Jessica Weiss
7th Grade Math Teacher Pewaukee School District
Key Outcomes
90% of students met or exceeded grade-level standards.
14% improvement in proficiency rate for students using Smartschool compared to other classes.
Students shifted from fearing mistakes to seeing them as opportunities to reflect, revise, and improve.