One city school made enough progress last year to lift off of a federal watch list for “failing” schools. Twenty-five others remain.
That was the takeaway Wednesday, as the state announced schools’ progress toward goals set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
When it was created in 2002, NCLB set a goal that every schoolkid in America would meet “proficiency” on statewide standardized tests by the year 2014. To measure their progress, the feds also set a yearly goal for schools, called Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
By that measure, five schools emerged as top-performers: Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School, Engineering & Science Magnet School, Nathan Hale School, Worthington Hooker School and Sound School. Those schools made AYP this year and were not on the federal watch list.
For a school to meet the AYP standard, about eight in 10 students in the school — as well as in minority and disability subgroups — had to score at or above proficient on statewide standardized tests. That standard gets higher every year.
Statewide, 281 schools fell short AYP last year. That’s about 28 percent of Connecticut public schools.
Citywide, 12 middle schools and six high schools failed to make AYP. (See a list below.)
Those that fail to meet AYP can end up on a federal watch list for schools “In Need of Improvement,” where they’re hit with a range of sanctions: First they’re put on watch. If they stay on the list for five years, they have to turn their school over to a charter, fire the principal and staff, or undergo major “restructuring.”
Twenty-five city schools remain on that watchlist. One school, Ross/Woodward, graduated from the list this year by showing enough progress toward AYP two years in a row.
In a press statement, Schools Superintendent Reggie Mayo commended the K‑8 school, which had spent four years on the “failing” list.
“This is a very significant accomplishment and their hard work should be recognized,” he said.
He also applauded the schools on the watch list that showed improvement: Barnard Environmental Magnet, Beecher School, Clinton Avenue School, Columbus Family Academy, John C. Daniels School, Edgewood Magnet School, King/Robinson Magnet School, Lincoln-Bassett School, Truman School, Career High School and New Haven Academy. Those schools were put on “hold” — they remain on the list, but they reached a first stepping stone, called “safe harbor,” to get off. If they make “safe harbor” again next year, they’ll get off of the list.
Mayo said he aims to make more progress through the city’s school change initiative.
“I anticipate more successes like this in our district over the coming years as we work to close the achievement gap, cut the drop-out rate in half and ensure that all our graduates are prepared to successful in college,” he said.
The 2009-10 school year was the fifth year that Connecticut tested public school students in Grades 3 to 8 to determine AYP status. Students are scored using the Connecticut Mastery Test, whose results were released last month. High schools are judged based on tenth-graders’ scores on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test.
Here’s how city schools fared:
Elementary and Middle Schools Not Making Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2009-10 School Year
Augusta Lewis Troup School
Benjamin Jepson Magnet School
Bishop Woods School
Celentano School
Clemente Leadership Academy
Conte/West Hills Magnet School
Davis 21st Century Magnet Elementary School
East Rock Global Studies Magnet School
Fair Haven School
Hill Central Music Academy
John S. Martinez School
Katherine Brennan School
Elm City College Preparatory School (charter)
High Schools Not Making Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2009-10 School Year
Cooperative High School
High School In The Community
Hyde Leadership School
James Hillhouse High School
Metropolitan Business High School
Wilbur Cross High School
Elementary and Middle Schools Identified as “In Need of Improvement,” 2009-10 School Year:
Augusta Lewis Troup School
Barnard Environmental Magnet School
Beecher School
Benjamin Jepson Magnet School
Bishop Woods School
Celentano School
Christopher Columbus Academy
Clemente Leadership Academy
Clinton Avenue School
Conte/West Hills Magnet School
East Rock Global Studies Magnet School
Fair Haven School
John S. Martinez School
Lincoln-Bassett School
Microsociety Magnet School
Truman School
Wexler/Grant Community School
High Schools Identified as “In Need of Improvement,” 2009-10 School Year:
Cooperative High School
High School In The Community
Hill Regional Career High School
Hyde Leadership School
James Hillhouse High School
Metropolitan Business High School
New Haven Academy
Wilbur Cross High School
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