Wallingford reports multi-year assessment gains, spotlights sixth-grade dip and rising high-needs population

Wallingford School District staff presented district and subgroup results from the state’s spring assessments at the Instructional Committee meeting Sept. 15, reporting multi‑year increases in percentage of students at or above mastery while flagging a recurring drop in scores when students transition to sixth grade and a steady rise in the district’s high‑needs population.

Ms. Latour, a district staff member who led the presentation, told the committee the packet includes Smarter Balanced (ELA and math), NGSS (science), Connecticut SAT School Day results, and LAS Links (English‑proficiency) data and that the slide deck would be posted on the district website. "As we have done, typically in the beginning months of school, this is our student achievement and growth data related to all of the state of Connecticut's state assessments that we take in the spring," she said.

The presentation emphasized both achievement (single‑year snapshots) and growth (rough cohort year‑over‑year results). Districtwide enrollment, Latour said, was about 5,000 students in 2024–25 and has declined by roughly 94 students over three years and about 780 students over 10 years; by contrast, the district’s high‑needs population rose about 2.77% over three years and more than 15% over 10 years.

Nut graf: The test results show gains in many grades and subgroups that district leaders attribute to curriculum revisions, targeted interventions and professional development, but officials said the persistent decline when students move into sixth grade and continuing attendance and resource pressures related to a growing high‑needs population will guide curriculum and intervention priorities this school year.

Key results and how the district is responding

Smarter Balanced (grades 3–8): The district reported three‑year highs in several elementary and middle‑school grade levels for…