Schools Look to Raise Test Scores

Recently released scores on two state tests show stagnation in Greenwich student performance across the board. Superintendent Signey Freund said Greenwich schools are moving in the right direction, but there is still work to be done. "We are optimistic that with our current strategies, resources and high-quality team in place will continue to achieve new heights in student performance," said Freund in a prepared statement.

Kim Eves, the school district's director of communications, said a three-year improvement plan was put into place last year that will continue to address gaps in achievement on the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT). "It entails drilling down to individual student needs and groups of students and where they struggle in relation to the standards," said Eves. "Generally speaking there aren't many surprises."

Grades three through five have continued to perform highly on the CMT math and reading tests. Grades six through eight reached a five-year-high on all levels and tests. Gains on the writing test were maintained across the board. Third grade reading scores reached a five-year high of 87.3 percent proficiency, though percentages dropped in the last year for advanced-level scores.

On the CAPT tests, 10th grade students reached a four-year high goal in math and made a four-year high in the advanced level on the writing test. CAPT reading scores declined at the advanced level, but remained unchanged at the proficient.

CMT science remains the most troublesome for students in grades five through eight. "We have dedicated resources, curriculum development, equipment and staff training in support of this program for the coming school year," Freund said in the release.

On the bright side, student achievement on the CAPT science test increased to four-year highs at the proficient and advanced levels.

The district and school-based data teams will review the scores in the coming week and will present the Board of Education with an Achievement Report at the Aug. 26 meeting at Glenville School. The complete scores can be found here.

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