The following is a submission from Wilton Board of Education Chair Ruth DeLuca.
Over the last several weeks my in-box has been inundated with rankings and reports and I’m filled with pride and gratitude. As we enter the Thanksgiving and holiday season allow me to share this “note of thanks” with the entire Wilton community.
Thank you teachers, administrators, staff, parents and students. Wilton’s children are learning, playing, growing, thriving and achieving. The recognition and accolades are pouring in.
Wilton is among the strongest performing districts in the state. We earned the second highest accountability index score among all Connecticut public schools.
- On Nov. 6 the Connecticut Department of Education released the 2023-2024 results from its Next Generation Accountability System. Connecticut’s Next Generation Accountability System “provides a holistic, multifactor perspective of district and school performance”; it is a measure of how well districts prepare students for success in college, career and life. We earned the second highest accountability index score among public schools.
- Wilton High School and Middlebrook were both first for comprehensive public high schools and middle schools.
- Cider Mill was identified as a School of Distinction and ranked third among grade 3-5 schools.
- Miller Driscoll ranked fourth among PK-2 schools.
Niche named Wilton the third best school district in Connecticut and U.S. News and World Reports ranked Middlebrook fourth in Connecticut and first for math.
On all academic measures, our kids are reaching new heights:
- on the Connecticut School Day SAT we were top in English and third in math
- on the NGSS we were first in Connecticut for 11th grade and second for 8th grade
- the combined Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA) scores placed us fifth in Connecticut for English and third for math
Advanced Placement course participation and performance reached new highs:
- 330 students took 27 offerings
- 97% of exam takers scored a three or higher
- 162 students were named AP Scholars, a distinction granted to students who score a three or higher on three or more AP exams
Five WHS students were identified as National Merit semifinalists and recently 12 seniors signed Division I commitment letters. We were the only high school in Connecticut granted the rights to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — our kids smashed it with a professional caliber performance and sold out all 800 seats for opening night! The Middlebrook Science Fair preparations are well underway and our youngest students are developing a love of learning by playing and doing.
Our strategic investments and continuous improvement model continues to advance the Wilton proposition of educational excellence — a great value. The October 2023-2024 data from the Bureau of Fiscal Services shows that we now spend the least amount per student in our District Reference Group, which includes Darien, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Westport and Weston.
This year the district is focusing on further developing “thinking classrooms” and the task design component of the accelerated learning framework. Curriculum reviews and pilot programs continue, with a focus on English language arts and community belonging. We also look to adopt best practices from the remarkable success of the math program. New STEM courses are advancing, including engineering design and principles, robotics, and aerospace engineering.
Every year we get better at getting better. The district will continue to lead with our commitment to do what is best for kids as our guide. Thank you, Wilton, for your continued partnership and trust.
Congratulations and well done – you’re providing a great service to our children and in my case, grandchildren! Keep up the good work it is so very much appreciated!