Vernon Schools Excel With Next Generation Accountability Results

VERNON, CT — Schools in Vernon received some positive news this month from the latest Next Generation Accountability Results from the Connecticut Department of Education.

Not only did Vernon beat the state average and rank No. 1 among Alliance Districts and its District Reference Group, Maple Street School and Northeast School earned "School of Distinction Status."

For the 2022-2023 school year, public schools in Vernon earned 72.4 points compared to the state average of 69.3.

"The Vernon Public Schools are moving forward," Superintendent Dr. Joseph P. Macary said. "We have high standards and high expectations and these results tell us we are preparing our student for success in college, careers and in life."

The Next Generation Accountability System evaluates schools on 12 criteria, including: academic achievement, academic growth, assessment participation rate, chronic absenteeism, college and career readiness, being on track for graduation in ninth grade, graduation in four years, graduation in six years for high-need students, post-secondary entrance rate, physical fitness and arts access. Those 12 criteria break down into 23 metrics that provide school leaders with details about school and district performance.

Vernon's results in those indicators provide clear evidence of the progress being made, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Robert Testa said.

"During the 2017-2018 school year we exceeded the state average on seven of 23 indicators," Testa said. "In 2022-2023 we exceeded the state average on 18 of 23 indicators. We're still not where we want to be, but we're making progress."

Maple Street School and Northeast School earned School of Distinction status because students achieved significant academic growth year over year. Student growth provides a more accurate measure of how schools contribute to student learning by demonstrating a student's pace of learning in a school year.

Students start each year with different levels of knowledge. Growth shows how well a school is helping students learn.

"Attaining these levels of growth among our students in grades 3 through 8 in English language arts, mathematics and science is great news and tells us we have a strong curriculum with focused teachers and interventions we can employ when a student struggles," Macary said. "Our students, teachers, families, staff and administrators are working extremely hard and we are proud of them."

Northeast School has been designated a School of Distinction for the fourth straight year. The school achieved high growth for high needs students in English language arts.

"You have to look at the individual child and drill down to what they need and that’s what we do at Northeast School," Principal Brenda Greene said. "We meet the needs of our students. The result is students who are able to meet their academic goals and achieve at high levels.”

Maple Street School achieved School of Distinction designation for high growth in English language arts and math for all students and for high needs students.

"We just want kids to learn and that is what we focus on every minute of every day," Maple Street School Principal Josh Egan said. "We have a very rigorous curriculum in place and have high expectations for all students. When a student struggles, we address the student’s needs through remediation and work with them to get them proficient."

An essential part of the formula at Maple Street School is building relationships with students and their families.

"That is how get the most out of our students," Egan said. "We have support from our families and our kids know we care about them. Kids want to learn and to perform well for teachers they know really care about them."