\orling Togethe;..

Vol. XVIV No. 2

E Ansonltn Ansonia Public Schools Summer 2O1O

Report from the Superintendent: Test Scores 2010

In mid-July, 2010, the State of Connecticut released the slightly, from75.4Yoto 73.7oh, and writing scores declined
results of the March tests taken by all public school students significantly. ffom 80.80/o a year ago to 70.8%.
in Grades 3-8 (the CMT) and Grade 10 (the CAPT). I want (irade / Math Reading Writing
to provide an overview ofhow Ansonia's students per-
formed on these tests, compared to our 2009 scores and Ansonia 2010 86.4 73.7 70.8
compared to the state average and District Reference Group
State Avg. 2010 87.4 85.3 79.7
for 2010. At the end of this reporl, I will also show how the
scores compare to our own District Improvement Plan Ansonia 2009 8 1.3 75.4 80.8
Goals.
First, I will explain how scoring is reported by the
state. There are five "bands" ofscores on the Connecticut Eighth grade students take a fourth test - in science
Mastery Test (CMT) and the Connecticut Academic Per- in addition to math, reading and writing. Their greatest
formance Test (CAPT): "below basic" is the lowest band, improvement was in the area of reading In2A09,62.60/o of
followed by "basic," "proficiency," "goal," and "advanced." our eighth graders met proficiency, while 74.7Yo metprofi-
Many of you are familiar with the federal No Child Left ciency in2010, a 12 percent increase. There was also an
Behind education act of 2001 G.{CLB), which requires all increase in science, fuom 56.7V:oto 60.5%o. The math and
school districts to bring all students up to the "proficient" writing scores decreased slightly.
level on state tests by the 2012-20 I 3 school year. Further- Grade 8 Math Read- Writing Science
more, the State of Connecticut Board of Education sets ins
"Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP) targets each year for all Ansonia 2010 81.5 74.7 71.0 60.5
students in each public school, as well as for specific demo-
graphic subgroups based on proficiency levels. State Avg. '10 86.6 82.6 80.6 76.0
Several of the local newspapers - including the Con- Ansonia 2009 83. r 62.6 72.8 56.7
necticut Post and New Haven Register - published articles
on July 16 and 17,20 1 0, which reported the percentage of
students who met the "goal" level. I am going to repoft to In Grade 3, reading scores increasedT.T percentage
you how our students performed based on the "proficient" points, with 47.6Yo of Ansonia students meeting profi-
level, since our District Improvement Plan, NCLB and AYP ciency compared to 33 .2Yo a year ago. Math scores de-
goals for reading and math are focused on proficiency. creased from 2009 and were slightly below the state aver-
Our sixth grade students had a stellar performance. age, with 80.3% meeting proficiency this year compared to
These students took tests in math, reading, and writing, and 88.5o/o a year ago. Our writing scores also decreased 3.2
showed huge improvements in reading and writing, with a percentage points, although our students are scoring
slight increase in math. Our students scored higher than the slightly above the state average of 80.3%.
state average in math and writing, and 3.5 percentage points Grade 3 Math Reading Writing
below the state average in reading.
Ansonia 2010 80.3 64.4 8l .0
Grade 6 Math Reading Writing
State Avg. 83.6 72.3 80.3
Ansonia 2010 90.8 82.0 89. I 2010
State Avg. 2010 88.2 85.5 85.5 Ansonia 2009 88.5 56.7 84.2

Ansonia 2009 88.8 65. I 7 5.7

Our seventh graders showed improvement in math,
with scores increasing 5 percentage points from 81 .3 to
86.4Yo from2009 to 2010 and nearly meeting the state
average of 87 .4% this year. Reading scores declined
Our greatest concern is with the Grades 4 and 5
scores, excluding Grade 4 witing, which showed signifi-
cant (8.3%) improvement over 2009, with Ansonia stu-
dents outperforming the state average. All other areas:
Grade 4 math and reading, and Grade 5 math, reading,
[Continued on Back Page]
Report from the Superintendent (continuedfrom ps. I)
writing, and science, showed decreases fiom 2009 ranging from #1 in the District #2 nthe District
2.5o/o (math, grade 5) to 13.loh (reading, Grade 5). We will be Reference Group Reference Grouo
focusing our efforts on instructional improvement for these two Grade 6 Math Grade 5 Math
grades as we plan for the start of the new school year in late Au-
gust. In addition, we will study individual student scores to plan Grade 8 Math Grade 7 Math
and implement intervention and support for those students most
Grade 4 Writing Grade 6 Reading
in need.
Grade 6 Writing
Grade 4 Math Read- Writing
ins
Ansonia 2010 82.2 58.0 86.9 How did the scores impact our own District Goal of improv-
State Avg.2010 85.2 12.9 86.5 ing reading and math scores for our students elieible for free/
reduced priced meals by 5 percentage points each year, from 2009
Ansonia 2009 9s.2 6s.9 78.6 to 2012? We met our District Goal in Reading by improving 5
percentage points in one year in Grades 3,6, 8 and 10. Three of
Grade 5 Math Read- Writing Science our grades - Grades 6, 8 and l0 - achieved reading scores that
ins actually surpassed our goal for the 2012yearl
Ansonia 2010 88.1 55.4 82.5 74.1 Another subgroup that showed huge improvement this year
was our special education students in Grade 10, as you can see in
State Avg.20l0 87.8 15.4 87.3 82.5 this chart:
Ansonia 2009 90.6 68.5 85.8 84.2
Grade l0 Special Math Read- Writ- Sci-
Education ins ins ence
Finally, I will report on the scores of our Grade 10 students. Ansonia 2010 27.3 46.2 26.',| JJ..'
We are trailing the state proficiency average in all four areas
(math, science, reading, and writing). However, our students Ansonia 2009 t6.7 16.7 0 9.1

showed gains in all four areas, ranging from I percentage point in

math (61.5%o in 2010 compared to 60.5oh in 2009); 5 percentage There is a great deal of improvement work planned for the
points in writing (71.7o/o this year vs. 66.5%o last year); 8 percent- coming 2010 2011 school year. Last year, we began implement-
age points in science (72.3% this year vs.64.3oh in 2009) and 15 ing our new K-12 Language Arts curriculum and new K-8 math
percentage points in reading (77 .5% in 20 l0 compared Io 62.9%o curriculum. In 2010 -2011 we will continue our curriculum de-
in 2009). velopment and revision and professional development with all
teachers. A new reading teacher will be added to the staffofAn-
Grade 10 Math Read- Writing Science
sonia High School, as well as an intervention math program for
ing
ninth graders this year. Curriculum revision for several subject
Ansonia 2010 6l.5 77.5 71.7 t 2..) areas began this summer and will continue throughout the year.
State Avg.2010 78.8 82.9 86.2 81.5 For all grade levels, we will require developing curriculum writ-
ing in all subject areas, with common expectations for perform-
Ansonia 2009 60.5 62.9 66.5 64.3 ance. We will utilize our Reading Intervention teachers - who are
grant-funded - with a focus on Grades 4 and 5.
In addition to comparing our scores to the state average, we We will be posting information about our District Improve-
look at how our scores compare to other school districts in our ment work on our own website, u'u,rv.ansonia.erg throughout the
District Reference Group, which is based on characteristics of the upcoming school year. Parents and guardians will receive their
students' families - primarily, socioeconomic similarities. An- child's individual scores in September. Please contact your school
sonia is grouped with Danbury, Derby, East Hartford, Meriden, principal if you have questions at that time. I am also available to
Norwalk, Norwich, Stamford and West Haven. The following answer any questions you may have at cDerlcrne((iansonia.org or
chart shows our best performing grades and test areas: (203) 736-s09s.

Board of Education Offices Ansonia High School Ansonia Middle School Prendergast School Mead School
42 Grove Street 20 Pulaski Highway 115 Howard Avenue 59 Finney Street 85 Ford Street
Ansonia, CT 06401 Ansonia, CT 06401 Ansonia, CT 06401 Ansonia, CT 06401 Ansonia, CT 06401
(203) 736-s0es (203) 736-s060 (203) 736-s070 (203) 736-5080 (203) 736-s090