Stone Scholastic Academy, a K-8 magnet school located in West Rogers Park, is culturally and academically diverse. Although ranked as high achieving and high performing, Stone faces many of the challenges (teaching kids 21st century skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, effective communication and collaboration) that plague most public schools. As a magnet school, Stone Academy is committed to increasing student outcomes in all aspects of literacy and increasing student motivation in school through: Integrating technology throughout the curriculum - multi-media center, computers in classrooms; Enhancing the total school curriculum with programs of computer technology, science, art, music, physical education and health and RTI supports in an effort to address students at all grade levels; Upgrading the mathematics component of the curriculum by focusing in on problem solving strategies; A literature-based approach to reading from kindergarten through eighth grade, with a whole school and classroom libraries; Integrating the student’s cultural background into the school curriculum.