SUPERINTENDENT DR. JOHN BARRY
SOUTHWICK – Curriculum Director Maureen Wilson explained the results of the 2013 Southwick Tolland Granville Regiional School District MCAS to the school committee last week, and the scores, overall, were good.
Wilson and Superintendent John Barry said there were some problem areas in growth percentiles, but most students scored ‘advanced’ or ‘proficient.’
“The results are strong,” Wilson said, noting that 94 percent of tenth graders scored ‘proficient’ or ‘advanced’ in English Language Arts, while 80 percent scored the same in math.
“Grade 10 results across the state are very good,” Barry added. “Our science and technology scores are not as positive, but biology results are much more positive.”
Wilson spoke about student growth and said growth is lower in the higher grades because since scores in grade 10 are so high, there is not as much room to grow.
Barry said grades five and six also had concerns with growth, especially in math.
“I don’t want to target one grade because that’s not fair, but there were some weaker results with middle school math,” he said.
Barry and Wilson said the district is working to increase those scores and is assessing middle school math. A new math coach was hired over the summer to help students.
“We’ve hired a math coach and have done a better job, so far this year, of benchmarking instruction,” said Barry.
Powder Mill Middle School Principal Ron Peloquin addressed the concerns.
“This is systematic,” he said. “It’s clearly concerning.”
Peloquin said students did well on “surface questions,” but did poorly when more thought was involved.
“When they get to the place when they need to talk about [the question in-depth], our kids are struggling,” said Peloquin.
Barry said he results were very similar to recent years with the exception of growth.
“I don’t think we have a crisis,” he said. “We are achieving better than the state average.”
Woodland Elementary School Principal Kimberly Sasso commended her teaching staff.
“Teachers in the elementary grades are teaching everything,” she said. “It’s difficult.”
High School Principal Pamela Hunter said she was “pleased” with the number of students in the advanced category.
Barry noted that the scores for lower income students were very positive.
