Pinkerton: Who We Are
Welcome! We are so glad you are here to learn more about our wonderful school, Pinkerton Elementary. Let’s start with an introduction to who we are and what we stand for.
We are IB.
Pinkerton is an IB World School, which means it is certified to teach in the International Baccalaureate model of education. At the elementary level, the IB program is called the PYP (Primary Years Program). Pinkerton is the only IB PYP in Coppell ISD, and it is one of only 13 fully accredited IB PYP programs in all of north Texas. Pinkerton began operating as an IB World School in 2016 and achieved recertification in 2021.
The goal of an IB program is to create inquiring, knowledgeable, and compassionate individuals who are equipped to succeed in the world and make it a better place. IB is an education methodology, not a packaged curriculum. As a public school, Pinkerton meets and exceeds all the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) as required by the state. The TEKS are integrated into every unit of instruction, which are shaped by IB principles.
A unique feature of IB learning is the transdisciplinary design of the learning units. Units are designed to help students explore how concepts they learn in one subject are interconnected with others. For example, the concepts of growth and change can be explored through mathematical practice as well as in the natural sciences and the growth of human societies throughout history. Studying concepts in an interconnected way promotes deeper learning and critical thinking.
We are a choice elementary in CISD.
Pinkerton is a school of choice in Coppell ISD, meaning our student body is comprised of learners who are zoned to the school as well as students who choose to attend by applying via lottery. Pinkerton is a public school, and as such, it is free to apply and attend.
We are culturally inclusive.
Pinkerton’s student body is highly international. Many families choose Pinkerton because of its reputation for creating a community of intercultural understanding and respect. The daily classroom experience provides an atmosphere of curiosity and acceptance of other cultures. Important traditions from home and all around the world are highlighted through activities, projects, and sharing of personal experiences. You might see children placing photos of loved ones on an ofrenda for Día de los Muertos or decorating the halls with colorful mandalas during Diwali.
Language is also an important part of the educational experience at Pinkerton. Outside of the dual language schools, Pinkerton is the only Coppell elementary school with a Spanish program. Additionally, teachers often bring the native languages of their students into the lessons, providing students an opportunity to share their cultural pride with fellow classmates.
We are character builders.
Pinkerton is about more than just stellar academics, though we certainly have those too! At Pinkerton, character building is central to the education process. A set of traits known as the IB Learner Profile serve as guiding principles for the school. The IB Learner Profile is more than just a set of vocabulary words – they are actions woven into everything Pinkerton students do. Even the youngest learners begin to understand the meaning of each attribute and how to embody it. At each grade level, the profile traits are built upon for more complex applications.
The IB learner profile describes traits that bring forth the mission of IB education to create lifelong learners who thrive and make a difference in their world. They are: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-Minded, Caring, Risk-Takers, Balanced, and Reflective. Pinkerton teachers and staff constantly reinforce the profile traits through different types of recognition throughout the year. For example, Global Citizen awards are given each nine weeks to learners who go above and beyond to exemplify the IB Learner Profile traits.
We are inquiry-based learning.
One of the tenets of IB education is inquiry-based learning. This is a student-centered approach to learning that focuses on building critical thinkers who extend their knowledge beyond the classroom into ideas that have local and global significance. Pinkerton students naturally recognize how the things they learn in the classroom impacts their community and the broader world, because that deeper understanding is built into every lesson.
Inquiry-based learning also promotes independence by encouraging students to take ownership of their learning. The focus is on how to think, not what to think. Teachers encourage questioning as part of the critical thinking process, and independent research is incorporated beginning in first grade.
We are part of Coppell’s history.
W.W. Pinkerton Elementary, opened in 1928 and originally called Coppell Grade School, was Coppell’s first elementary school. The building burned down in 1949 but was reconstructed on the same site.
Today, Pinkerton remains a treasured part of our community. Parents who spent their elementary years there now return to Coppell to raise families and watch their own children grow and thrive at Pinkerton.
We are Pinkerton!
If you are interested in learning more, please attend one of our upcoming parent information sessions. Click HERE for more information.
Learn more about the IB Program HERE and how Pinkerton implements it HERE.