Is your school making the grade? New ratings show improvement, but still below targets

Schools are improving on Connecticut’s accountability ratings, according to new data from the state Department of Education – but most are still far below the target scores.

“THINGS ARE MOVING UP”

Overall, the news is good.

Statewide, the school accountability score was 71.8% for the 2024-25 school year. That’s up 1% over the previous year.

Education leaders said the improvement may sound small, but it’s part of a bigger trend.

“Things are moving up, and things are heading in the right direction,” said SDOE Chief Performance Officer Ajit Gopalakrishnan. “You might see a one percentage point or a two percentage point improvement. It’s really important to note that those small percentages actually represent thousands of students.”

Most western Connecticut school districts improved – and some saw significant year-over-year gains, including Norwalk, Stratford, Woodbridge and Derby.

But only seven local school systems hit the state target of 85% – Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston, Ridgefield and Region 9. They are among the wealthiest districts in the state.

MORE THAN TEST SCORES

The Next Generation Accountability ratings represent more than just test scores. It’s broad-based measurement that considers 12 different factors, including school attendance, access to arts education, physical fitness and graduation rates, as well as how many students go on to college or trade school.

Milford Public Schools jumped nearly 2%, in part because of dual enrollment classes that offer college credit.

“I’ve been eligible to get college credit from every course I've completed so far, and that has really made me feel more confident going into my plans for a four-year bachelor's degree in college,” said Kayla Markowitz, the senior class president at Jonathan Law High School. “When I first started taking these classes, I wasn't sure what I wanted to go into. Taking specifically AP U.S. Government and Politics helped me realize that I was interested in political science.”

Milford’s superintendent said partnerships have made the difference.

“We, with intention, reached out to our local community colleges and universities,” said superintendent Dr. Anna Cutaia. “We asked how can we work together?”

HOW DID YOUR DISTRICT SCORE?

You can search each school system’s Next Generation ratings HERE.

Southwestern Connecticut districts that improved: