Wilton School Officials Thrilled with Standardized Test Results

For another year many Wilton students have performed at the top in terms of standardized testing, drawing pleased praise from school officials at last Thursday night’s (Sept. 5) Board of Education meeting.

“A week or so ago, the state released the SAT (Connecticut Scholastic Assessment Test), SBA (Smarter Balanced Assessment) and Accountability Index information,” Wilton Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Smith said.

“Our school district once again performed at or near the top of the state on a long list of indicators,” he said, in comparison to other K-12 districts.

Prior to a more in-depth presentation by a staff member, Smith noted some of the highlights of the results.

“Our ELA District Performance Indicator (DPI) was fourth in Connecticut among K-12 districts,” he said. “Our math DPI was third, our science DPI was third.”

“Our SAT math combined rank was third in Connecticut,” he said. “Our SAT ELA combined rank was fifth.”

“Grade 11 math, the SAT, in terms of percent passing, was third in Connecticut,” he continued. “Wilton also had the second highest average score … Grade 11 science was also number one in Connecticut in K-12 districts.”

“Grade 8 math was number 1 in Connecticut among K-12 districts,” Smith said . “Grade 8 ELA was second in Connecticut and grade 8 science was first, so the list goes on.”

Other highlights noted by Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Chuck Smith included grade 7 ranking fifth on the SBA for both ELA and Math, grade 6 ranking second in the state on the SBA for both ELA and Math, and grade 4 ranking seventh in the state for ELA on the SBA.

The district overall also ranked ninth in the state with a combined growth rate from the spring tests on the SBA ELA, and also showed the number one growth rate in the state overall for SBA math.

Closer to home, Wilton’s DRG (District Reference Group), which includes Darien, Easton, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston and Westport, saw Wilton at a combined 80.8% for the SBA ELA grades 3-8 overall, just under Darien, with 81.7%. New Canaan led the group at 86.6%, with Redding the lowest at 74.3%.

For Math grades 3-8 overall, Wilton led with 82%, above New Canaan at 79.4%, with Westport the lowest combined percentage at 74%.

For grade 11 CT SAT, Wilton led the DRG with ELA at 92.5%, just above Darien at 90.9%, with Ridgefield the lowest at 87.2%. In SAT Math, with 75.7% Wilton scored just below Westport at 76.5% and Darien at 76.1%, with Region 9 (combined) Easton/Redding scoring lowest at 59.9%.

“The purpose of this is for us to be able to say we’re putting resources in the right place, we’re moving kids in the direction we want them to go,” BOE Chair Ruth DeLuca said, specifically noting growth trends.

Chuck Smith noted that the results show there has been progress.

“Not too long ago the achievement gap was much much bigger than it is right now and over town it is getting narrower,” he said.

“That indicates to me that the work we’re doing is working, but there are always areas in which we can refine it,” he said.

BOE member Patrick Pearson pointed out several changes in ELA and Math performance by grade level, with certain pattern open to additional analysis. 

“What do we think’s driving that activity,” he said of improvements in math at grade six. “I’m sure some of it is we just we have certain cohorts that perform better but it would be interesting to understand what those drivers are.”

DeLuca noted that when she first began on the BOE there was a focus on improving math scores.

“I just think about where we were and where we have come and it’s truly remarkable … and I see with other things, like ELA, are moving more in that direction.”

“All of it is really remarkable and everybody should really feel proud,” she said.