Nampa School District's oldest school sits in a poor, shifting neighborhood near downtown.

About 85 percent of the students come from families poor enough to qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch. About 46 percent are minority, and 20 percent speak a language other than English at home.

On average, half of the student body didn't even attend the school the previous year.

So when the number of Central Elementary students reading at or above grade level jumped by about 25 percent in the 2007-08 school year - and that was just the latest in a few years of improvements - state officials took notice.

"It's pretty impressive for a school that has such a mobile population," said Marcia Beckman, director of the No Child Left Behind program and Title I for the Idaho Department of Education.

Sure, the kindergarten through fifth-grade school is doing all the latest research-based instruction and staff development, and uses a state-of-the-art database to track what works and how best to target resources.

But Principal Cindy Thomas, who has been at the school for three years, will tell you that the most important ingredient in the school's success is the way everybody is chipping in to help these kids.

"It's every single one of us," Thomas said. "That is the whole key, all of us working together."

The attitude is infectious.

Custodian Dorene Shelton spends her 15-minute breaks each day reading with students.

"Mrs. Thomas believes that we all help," Shelton said. "It's not just one person doing it all."

Third-grade teacher Julia Moye said she realized the school's atmosphere was amazing when she first visited and saw that Thomas knew each child's name and showed each one love and concern.

"If they made me leave, it would be kicking and screaming," she said.

Moye said Thomas doesn't allow any personal conflicts or territorial squabbles.

"She lets us do what we need to do to meet the kids' needs," Moye said. "It's about the kids, so you can learn, so you can grow up and have a great life."

Jeanie Burton, the mother of three Central students, moved from Arizona to Idaho when her husband was deployed to Afghanistan three years ago. She said she was worried about the quality of schools, but because of her kids' success, she plans to keep them in Central until they graduate even though the family lives outside the school's zone.

"My kids are excited to be here every day," Burton said. "What I love about the school is that Mrs. Thomas is very personable. She remembers names, which makes the parents feel more welcomed here. This school has met my expectations and more."

Community partners contribute to the school's achievements.

Costco employees read to children on various days. Nampa First Church of the Nazarene runs reading and other programs, such as Christmas shoebox gifts, to support the children and their families. Retired educators and community leaders volunteer their time.

School resource officers from the Nampa Police Department run programs at elementary schools including Central.

Central's resource officer, Matt Archuleta, says he teaches life skills, such as how to manage anger and avoid gangs, to fifth-graders.

He shows them games and how to have fun without spending a lot.

"Our goal is to give our kids tools to navigate our culture," Archuleta said.

Just before state testing, he educates the kids on how television affects their brains and helps them realize that they could be doing more important things than watching the tube or playing computer games.

He then challenges them to turn off the TV about a week before the testing and see what difference it makes.

"We couldn't possibly serve all these needs without them," Thomas said of her partners.

Beckman said there's another critical piece.

"They have developed this strong and very effective communication with their community and families," she said.

"Every child is everybody's responsibility. It's a perfect storm in the good sense."

So what do her most important stakeholders think?

"What I love best about this school is there is no bullying and everyone is kind to each other," said third-grader Trinity Whiteley, 8.

"It has great teachers, the best principal," said Phoenix Ivers, 9, also in the third grade. And "my best friend gets to be here."

Sandra Forester: 377-6464