From Graduation To Gateway

More Branford High School students have chosen to attend Gateway Community College after graduation than in previous years, according to a new analysis put together by the high school. The number of students attending four-year colleges has held relatively steady, indicating that the increase appears to be coming from a pool of students who previously got jobs or joined the military.

The economy has affected trends in college attendance for Branford High School graduates, with a marked increase in students attending two-year colleges, according to information presented at the recent school board meeting.

“You can look directly to the economy for that (increase),” said Branford High School Principal Lee Panagoulias. The guidance department concurred, stating in the report that ​“The current economic climate has affected trends in the application and attendance college process.”

Of a total 277 students in Branford’s 2011 graduating class, 50 are currently enrolled at Gateway Community College in New Haven. Twenty-one students are at the University of Connecticut and 15 attend Southern Connecticut State University.

Enrollment figures show that overall the graduates are currently attending more than 90 colleges across the country. (See the data here.)

“We thought it wise to prepare a comprehensive report,” said Hamlet Hernandez, superintendent of the Branford School District. ​“It’s the first time we’ve ever done this and we hope to continue.”

The 29-page report, prepared by the high school’s guidance department, focuses on the graduating class of 2011. It includes comprehensive lists of colleges where the students applied, where they were accepted and which colleges they are attending. The report also includes a chart comparing post-high school plans for the past five years, a listing of proposed majors, and summaries of test scores for the 2011 senior class.

“It gives more of a three-dimensional look at the class,” said Principal Panagoulias.

Other charts list the number of acceptances and enrollment at the ​“most competitive” and at the ​“highly competitive” colleges as defined by Baron’s Profile of American Colleges.

A total of 152 students applied to colleges in the most competitive category, with 44 accepted and 13 actually attending. Those numbers include seven who applied to Yale University, one who was accepted, and none enrolled. Fifteen applied to Boston College, seven were accepted and three are enrolled. (See the data here .)

A total of 99 students applied to the ​“highly competitive” colleges; 72 were accepted and 43 are enrolled. That list includes 21 who attend the University of Connecticut, and six who attend Quinnipiac University. (See the data here.)

Panagoulias said the class of 2011 did ​“extremely well” on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests, which students take before applying to colleges. (See the score data here.)

He told the board that while the percent of graduates attending 4‑year colleges has remained relatively level over the past five years, there was a ​“dramatic increase” in the number going to two-year colleges and technical schools.

Statistics for the 2011 class show 65 percent attending four-year colleges, compared to 67 percent in 2007; and 27 percent attending two-year or technical schools, compared to 12 percent in 2007. 

An additional 8 percent of the graduates were listed as joining the military, seeking employment or undecided —compared to 20 percent in 2007.

The entire report will be available on the schools’ website, and copies will be distributed to members of the Representative Town Meeting.

“I hope this gives a broad picture,” Panagoulias said. ​“We’re very proud of the wide variety of schools our students are accepted to and are going to.”

State Achievement Tests — Elementary and Secondary

The superintendent also continued the ongoing discussion of standardized test scores at the elementary and secondary schools. Each month, he has presented different statistics to show how Branford students are scoring on the Connecticut Mastery Tests (CMT) and the Connecticut Academic Performance Tests (CAPT). Click here for story on test scores. 

“We really want to see where we are compared to state averages,” Hernandez said.

In most instances, Branford students are scoring above the state averages for the 2011 tests. However, Hernandez said the 2011 CMT results show the percentages of Branford fourth graders who are at or above goal in reading and writing are below the state average. In addition, the percentages of sixth and seventh grade students who are at or above goal in writing are below the state average.

Hernandez said that writing is ​“an area of concern” for several grade levels, according to the recent test results. ​“Writing is a struggle for us,” he said.

The district has begun offering writing workshops in an attempt to boost writing skills.

Board of Education Chair Frank Carrano asked how the district compares with other schools in the District Reference Group (DRG). The state is divided into nine DRGs, which categorize the towns according to socioeconomic factors. Branford and 23 other towns are in the fourth category from the top. 

“Generally speaking, we are smack dab in the middle of our DRG,” Hernandez said. However, he said, Branford spikes to number two out of 24 districts in some areas, and spirals down to 23rd or 24th in others. He said he would compile more data about the DRG comparisons.

Hernandez said that administrators will return to the BOE next month to continue the discussion of test scores and to answer questions.

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