The accreditation scores for Eureka Elementary and other schools in Charlotte County were impressive this year. Eureka especially excelled, being fully accredited with no conditions and surpassing the state standard in all categories. One of those was English, where 91% of students passed the state test. One way that happens, Eureka staff say, is by making learning fun. Fourth graders, for example, are given a challenge. If they meet their accelerated reader (AR) goal, they get to pick a puppy from the pound to read and spend time with during class. Accelerated Reader is a program that helps teachers track students’ independent practice and progress with reading outside of the classroom. Teachers use it to help struggling students find books they can read successfully. Pictured here are members of the fourth grade class at Eureka Elementary with their puppies.