In the Connecticut State Department of Education’s School Performance Report for 2012-13 three of Stratford’s public schools — Eli Whitney Elementary, Flood Middle School and Wooster Middle School — are rated as Progressing schools, one — Lordship Elementary — is rated as Review, and the other nine are rated as Transitioning.
Stratford Academy/Johnson House, a Transitioning school, was designated a School of Distinction, because its English Language Learners subgroup performed exceedingly well.
No Stratford school was rated as Excelling and no school was rated as among the lowest performing schools statewide by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE).
The CSDE report informs parents and communities about the overall performance of their schools and districts.
Connecticut schools were ranked according to a complex formula combining a number of criteria — student individual performing index (IPI), school performance index (SPI), district performing index (DPI), and subject school performance index (Subject SPI).
The SPI, one of the key components, is a calculated index of the number of students performing at goal on a majority of standardized tests such as the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) or Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT).
The state has set a target for all schools to achieve an 88 SPI (based on 0-100 SPI) by 2024.
Classifications
The school classifications, from highest level to lowest, are:
• Excelling — An overall SPI of 88 or above. More than 25% of students score “advanced” in a majority of subjects tested. CAPT participation rate is at least 95%. Graduation rate is at least 94%.
• Progressing — There are two ways a school can receive a progressing classification: a) An overall SPI of 88 or above and a CAPT participation rate of at least 95%, missing one or more of the excelling criteria or b) an overall SPI of 64 to 87 inclusive, a CAPT participation rate of at least 95%, and meeting the SPI target for 2012-13. Stratford’s three Progressing schools qualified by being in the (b) category with SPI between 64 and 87 inclusive.
• Transitioning — An overall SPI of 64 to 87 and a CAPT participation rate of at least 95%, missing one or more of the progressing criteria.
• Review — An overall SPI below 64 or a CAPT participation rate below 95%.
• Focus — A Title I school (a school designated in need of improvement) with one of its subgroups among the lowest performing in the state.
• Turnaround — Schools in this category were selected from among the lowest performing schools statewide.
School by school
Three of Stratford’s public schools achieved the individual school target as set by the state — Eli Whitney, Wooster Middle School and Flood Middle School. The other 10 public schools here did not achieve the state’s target for the school.
Twelve of Stratford’s 13 public schools were given a target in each of four subject areas — math, reading, writing, and science. Stratford Academy/Honeyspot House, which is kindergarten through second grade, was not shown with subject targets.
None of the 12 reported Stratford schools achieved its target in math.
In reading, Eli Whitney, Wooster and Flood achieved target. The other nine reported schools did not.
In writing, Eli Whitney, Wooster and Flood achieved target. The other nine reported schools did not.
In science, Chapel Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Eli Whitney, and Stratford Academy/Johnson House achieved target. The other eight reported schools did not.
District overall
Taking all schools together, the Stratford district did not achieve state target.
State Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said the new accountability system is primarily designed to recognize the progress schools are making as well as highlight areas that need improvement.
“We encourage educators and parents to draw upon these reports — as well as other forms of input and insight — as they continue working together for our schools’ and our students’ success,” he said.
For Stratford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Robinson’s overview of these report results, see related story in this edition.
For complete reports, visit the website sde.ct.gov.
Patricia Gay contributed to this report.
Lordship Elementary School missed its state-designated target for achievement by more than any other Stratford public school. It has been termed a “Review” school by the Connecticut Department of Education. Greg Reilly photo.