Three East Hartford public schools have been named “Schools of Distinction” by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) for their high performance and growth.
On November 6, the CSDE released results from the 2023-2024 Next Generation Accountability System. In this system, schools and districts earn points on a broad set of 12 indicators that help tell the story of how well a school is preparing its students for success. These indicators include achievement, growth, chronic absenteeism, college and career readiness, high school graduation, postsecondary entrance, physical fitness, and the arts. The “Schools of Distinction” were chosen based on their performance in these indicators last school year.
Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA) was one of only 69 schools statewide, in 2023-2024, that received this Distinction for High Performance. CIBA earned 85.6% of the total possible points available across all indicators.
As a 2023-2024 “School of Distinction”, Pitkin Elementary School was recognized for High Growth among high needs students in Math. In this indicator, students earned 81.8% of the growth target compared to a state-level average of 55.1%.
Goodwin Elementary School received the “School of Distinction” recognition for High Growth among high needs students in English and Language Arts (ELA). In this indicator, Goodwin students earned 76.3% of the growth target compared to the state-level average of 54.2%.
Overall, 7 out of 12 East Hartford Schools, including 6 of 8 elementary schools, increased their accountability index score in 2023-2024 from the 2022-2023 school year. Five district schools earned a higher accountability index score than the state accountability index score of 70.8.
East Hartford outpaces the state for academic growth among all students and among high need students in both ELA and Math. Most notably, East Hartford’s high needs students in both subject areas earned 4 percentage points more than the state.
In the area of attendance, EHPS has consistently decreased chronic absenteeism since the pandemic (down 1.4% in 2023-2024). Langford, Pitkin, Goodwin, O’Brien, Synergy and Sunset Ridge all decreased their chronic absenteeism percentage by 6+ points.
In the Next Generation Accountability System, schools are placed into one of five categories. Category 1 schools are the highest performing schools while Category 4 and 5 schools are those identified for state support. This year, Goodwin, Langford, and Pitkin Elementary Schools moved up from Category 3 to Category 2. East Hartford does not have any Category 4 or 5 schools.