Redding, Easton Schools Earn High Marks On State 'Report Cards'

EASTON/REDDING, Conn. – The public schools in Easton, Redding and Regional School District 9 once again posted high scores on the state’s annual “report cards,” but the state’s results show achievement gaps for students with disabilities in the two towns.

John Read Middle School in Redding was named a School of Distinction by the state.
Photo Credit: *File*

by Greg Canuel

12/06/2013 5:00 a.m.

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) released its annual Performance Reports for all public schools in the state Thursday afternoon. The reports take into account scores on standardized tests and high school graduation rates to grade each school’s performance.

“These reports demonstrate that there are bright spots and best practices as well as areas in need of review and improvement in districts and schools across the state,” Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said in a press release.

The reports give each school a Student Performance Index (SPI), which ranges from 1 to 100. The reports also track student groups based on race, economic standing and special needs, and identify potential achievement gaps for schools and districts to correct. Each school and district is then given one of six classifications: Excelling, Progressing, Transitioning, Review, Focus, or Turnaround.

The state’s goal is for all schools to have an SPI of 88 or higher, but the annual reports assign each district a goal score that would mark an improvement over the previous year. The state’s report says that more than half the schools in the state reached their target scores for the 2012-13 school year.

Both Easton schools -- Samuel Staples Elementary and Helen Keller Middle -- were ranked as Progressing. Redding Elementary School also earned the Progressing rating.

Redding's John Read Middle School was rated as Excelling and was also named a "School of Distinction" by the state for Highest Overall Performance on the CMT.

Region 9's Joel Barlow High School, which students from both Easton and Redding attend, was rated as Progressing.

An achievement gap was found between some students with disabilities and with high needs and their peers at Joel Barlow High School and at Read. A gap was also shown at Read between students who are eligbile for free/reduced lunch and their peers.

You can search for your school’s performance report on the Connecticut Department of Education website.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Westport and receive free news updates.