New Haven schools report mixed gains, set 2029 targets in ‘Path to Excellence’ update

New Haven Public Schools leaders presented 2024–25 assessment results and a set of district priorities to the Board of Alders Education Committee during a Sept. 24 workshop, reporting modest test gains, expanded dual‑enrollment participation and targets tied to a five‑year "Path to Excellence" plan.

Superintendent Dr. Miranda and Keisha Redd, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment, told aldermen the district has made progress on several measures but that some accelerated growth goals set for 2024–25 were not met.

The presentation compared SmartBalance and MAP results across multiple years and demographic groups. Officials said district English‑language arts performance rose slightly year over year; mathematics showed a small improvement. The presenters noted the district is “not where we wanna be” while also saying there are signs of progress and the need to accelerate gains.

Keisha Redd said the district tracks cohort and year‑over‑year measures despite student transiency: "We do see progress being made, but our question is... how do we accelerate progress." She described measures broken out by grade and student subgroups and said leaders are monitoring both proficiency and on‑track indicators.

Redd and other presenters highlighted dual‑enrollment and college‑credit work as a growing source of postsecondary preparation. Officials reported 3,248 college credits earned by students in the most recent year, which the presentation said represented a cost savings to families of "over $3,100,000" and about $925,000 more than the prior year. The district said Southern Connecticut State University supplied the largest share of partner credits.

The district also reviewed other district metrics tied to the Path to Excellence, a five‑year plan with targets for language, literacy and numeracy. Officials said current results put the district short of some annual acceleration targets established for 2024–25; for example, a baseline target of 55.7% for a combined marker recorded an actual 54.8% for the year. Officials noted that several other specific goals were met or exceeded, including a chronic‑absenteeism target the presentation reported as achieved.

On grade‑11 SAT results the presentation recorded mixed movement: an ELA score that rose and then fell (the transcript lists a movement from 35.3 to 31.8) and math figures described in the presentation as a small bump year to year. Presenters emphasized that SAT and some subgroup figures are single‑cohort or single‑year measures and urged caution in interpretation while using them alongside multi‑year trends.

District leaders described four district priorities for the coming year: reducing chronic absenteeism, improving literacy, strengthening school cultural climate, and increasing postsecondary and employment readiness. The district said it is expanding coaching cycles, data systems and school‑level team work to monitor Tier‑1 instruction and to move students into timely interventions when needed.

Dr. Miranda framed the work as ongoing and collective: "We are doing this work together," she said, adding that school‑level teams and coaching will be scaled districtwide to improve fidelity to instructional materials and to strengthen supports for students.

Committee members responded positively to the presentation, with one alderman calling the update "encouraging" and thanking staff for the work.

The committee held the presentation as a workshop item; no formal vote was taken. The presentation and data will remain part of regular district monitoring and future committee discussion.

Ending: Board materials show the workshop presentation and underlying data will remain available through district reports; the Education Committee continues to schedule follow‑up updates as the Path to Excellence work proceeds.