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Schools
Top Honors: These Fairfield County Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award Top Honors: These Fairfield County Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award
Top Honors: These Fairfield County Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award When it comes to overall excellence, these Connecticut schools are at the top of the class, and they have the hardware to prove it. Four schools in the Constitution State are among just 353 across the country to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education. The annual awards recognize high-performing public and non-public schools, as well as those making strides in closing “achievement gaps” among student groups. “Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teac…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
This Connecticut Liberal Arts College Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says This Connecticut Liberal Arts College Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says
This Connecticut Liberal Arts College Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says The grades are in, and these colleges are a cut above the rest. Of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the United States, four can be found in Massachusetts, three in New York, and one in Connecticut, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings. They are: No. 1 - Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts No. 2 - Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts No. 4 - Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts (Tied with Pomona College in Claremont, California and Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania) No. 8 - United States Military …

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings
Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Led by a strong showing in Fairfield County, Connecticut is well-represented on U.S. News & World Report's brand-new rankings of the nation's best high schools. The rankings were released on Tuesday, Aug. 29. The Nutmeg State's No. 1 ranked school is the Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut, with a 100-percent graduation rate, and college readiness rating of 76.1. The top-ranked school from Fairfield County is Staples High School in Westport at No. 2 in the state, and 240th nationally. Connecticut IB Academy in East Hartford checks in at No. 3 in Connecti…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Sexually Explicit Material Shows Up On Slideshow During Fairfield School District Event Sexually Explicit Material Shows Up On Slideshow During Fairfield School District Event
Sexually Explicit Material Shows Up On Slideshow During Fairfield School District Event A Connecticut school district is investigating after reported sexually explicit material showed up in a slideshow presentation during the district's annual convocation. The incident took place in the town of Fairfield on Thursday, Aug. 24 during the event that kicks off the new school year.  “There was an inappropriate website URL which appeared within the keynote speaker’s presentation during yesterday’s Convocation," said Fairfield Public School Superintendent Michael J. Testani. Fairfield Public Schools Superintendent Michael J. TestaniFairfield Public Schools Testani said the websi…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
These Fairfield County High Schools Rank Among Top 10 In State, Report Says These Fairfield County High Schools Rank Among Top 10 In State, Report Says
These Fairfield County High Schools Rank Among Top 10 In State, Report Says The grades are in and these Connecticut high schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering a number of key areas, the following schools were ranked top 10 in the website’s 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Connecticut” report: No. 1 - Fairfield County: Staples High School in Westport No. 2 - Fairfield County: New Canaan High School No. 3 - Fairfield County: Darien High School No. 4 - Fairfield County: Greenwich High School No. 5 - Fairfield County: Wilton High School No. 6 - Hartford County: Avon High School No. 7 - Hartford …

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say
Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say Harvard University is under federal scrutiny for its preferential treatment of donor and legacy candidates, reports say.  The US Department of Education announced this week it had opened an investigation into the prestigious Massachusetts university's admissions practices for undergraduate applicants, according to Harvard's newspaper, the Crimson.    Related: End Of 'Legacy': Wesleyan University Halts Admissions Perk The investigation will seek to determine if the legacy or donor admissions discriminate on the basis of race, the Crimson reported. If so, the university m…

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by Morgan Gonzales
Schools
Danbury Educator Earns Exceptional Principal Award Danbury Educator Earns Exceptional Principal Award
Danbury Educator Earns Exceptional Principal Award An educator in Fairfield County has been awarded the prestigious Exceptional Principal Award. In Danbury, Rogers Park Middle School Principal, Dr. Kristy Zaleta, accepted the award from the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.  The award “recognizes a school principal who goes beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment for Latino students and their families,” the organization said.  Rogers Park Middle School is composed of 78 percent of Black, indigenous students of color, 6…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
New Assistant Principal Named At School In Greenwich New Assistant Principal Named At School In Greenwich
New Assistant Principal Named At School In Greenwich A school in Fairfield County has selected a new assistant principal who school officials say is more than qualified for the role.  Steven Groccia has been named the new Assistant Principal at Cos Cob School, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Toni Jones announced on Monday, May 15.  Groccia will take over the position from Karen Vitti, who has been on special assignment and filling in for the role since September 2022. Currently serving as an elementary assistant principal at the Meeting House Hill School in New Fairfield, Groccia will bring his extensive experienc…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Principal Named To School In Greenwich New Principal Named To School In Greenwich
New Principal Named To School In Greenwich Students at a school in Fairfield County will find a new principal roaming the halls this fall. Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones announced on Tuesday, May 9 the appointment of Marc Guarino as principal of Eastern Middle School, effective Saturday, July 1.  Guarino replaces Jason Goldstein who announced in January that he is stepping down at the end of the school year to return to teaching in the classroom.  The new principal will oversee all of EMS’ programs that meet the needs of its students with a strong focus on academic, persona…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Wilton, Greenwich Students Named Presidential Scholars Wilton, Greenwich Students Named Presidential Scholars
Wilton, Greenwich Students Named Presidential Scholars Two Fairfield County students have been named as 2023 US Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for graduating high school seniors. Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker made the announcement on Wednesday, May 10 that Ambika Grover of Greenwich High School and Lukas Koutsoukos of Wilton High School were selected for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.  “I am so proud of Ambika and Lukas on being named US Presidential Scholars and receiving this extraordinary national rec…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Junior Scientist Award: Westport Student Earns Prestigious STEM Program Award Junior Scientist Award: Westport Student Earns Prestigious STEM Program Award
Junior Scientist Award: Westport Student Earns Prestigious STEM Program Award A Connecticut middle school student impressed a national STEM competition with a potential study that could be out of this world.  Fairfield County resident Ziggy Zhao, who attends the Pierrepont School in Westport,  won one of the five Junior Scientist Awards from the Genes in Space contest, which asks students from across the country to design biology experiments that address real-world challenges in space exploration.  The winning study will be carried out by astronauts aboard the International Space Station next year.  The 12-year-old Zhao created an exper…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
New Principal Named At Greenwich Middle School New Principal Named At Greenwich Middle School
New Principal Named At Greenwich Middle School A new principal has been named to take the helm at Western Middle School in Greenwich. Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones announced Tuesday, May 9, the appointment of Dr. PJ Wax III as principal of Western Middle School, effective Saturday, July 1.  Wax replaces Gordon Beinstein who announced in January that he is retiring at the end of the school year.  “Greenwich Public Schools continues to be the premiere destination for educators and administrators in our region as more than 60 candidates vied for this position,” Jones said.  Wax comes to GPS from St…

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by Kathy Reakes