Montville Shows Solid Increases in CAPT Scores

Montville 10th graders showed a solid increase in Connecticut Academic Performance Test scores across the board, according to the results released Tuesday by the state.

Most significant are the increases in the "at or above goal level" science scores, which went from 40.1 percent to 52.6 percent, and the "at or above goal level" writing scores, which went from 54.7 percent to 65.5 percent, meaning that in Montville in 2011, 65.5 percent of 10th graders scored at or above goal levels.

Montville 10th graders scored higher in 2011 than in 2010 in all categories except "at or above proficiency" in science, and "at or above proficiency" in reading. In science, 80 percent were at or above proficiency in 2011, compared to 81.6 percent in 2010. In reading, it was virtually even, with 77.5 percent scoring at or above proficiency in 2011, vs. 77.6 percent in 2010.

Superintendent Pamela Aubin said this morning that "Generally, I am very pleased.

"This is a hard-working district," she said, and spoke about the school improvement teams that are in place, and the focus the district has put on data and quantifiable improvement.

The report was released to administrators last week, while Aubin was on vacation. "Believe me," she said, "I was up at 3 a.m.," vacation or not, waiting for the test scores.

Statewide, students showed improvement over 2010 in the percentage of Grade 10 students at or above the proficiency and goal levels across most content areas, with small decreases in reading, according to a press release from the state.

In a press release, Aubin made special note of the district's strengths:

Mathematics

• The percentage of students at or above the goal level increased 5.2 points from 39.1 to 44.3.
• The percentage of students at or above the Proficient level increased 3.2 points from 72.1 to 75.3.

Science

• The percentage of students at or above the goal level increased 12.5 points from 40.1 to 52.6.  This improvement represents the highest percentage at goal in science for the past five years.
• The percentage of students at or above the Proficient level declined by 1.6 points.

Reading Across the Disciplines

• The percentage at or above the goal level increased 7.8 points from 32.7 to 40.5. This improvement represents the highest level in four years.
• The percentage at or above the Proficient level decreased by .1.

Writing

• The percentage of students at or above the goal level increased 10.8 points from 54.7 to 65.5.
• The percentage of students at or above the Proficient level increased .2 from 87.9 to 88.1.

Aubin also said that Montville's scores in science were the highest in the district's reference group.

While she is pleased with the scores, she said she realizes that this is a snapshot, the achievement of one group of students at one point in one year.

There are years when students make progress, she said, and there are years when teachers and the district work very hard and progress does not show up.

"It's a very challenging test," she said.

CAPT scores offer five levels of performance for each content area: below basic, basic, proficient, goal and advanced, according to the press release from the state. The percentage of students scoring at or above the goal level, the release says, "has been an important indicator of the quality of secondary school education in Connecticut."

The percentage of students scoring at or above the Proficient level, the press release says, "is used to identify schools and districts that are making 'Adequately(sic) Yearly Progress' ... under No Child Left Behind."

To see the scores for Montville, and surrounding towns, or to read the entire press release from the state, click on the pdfs in the photo box.

To go to the state website with the test information, click here.