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Cromwell administrators report gains on Smarter Balanced, PSAT/SAT and AP results
Summary
District administrators told the board the district saw multiple year-over-year gains across grades on Smarter Balanced and PSAT benchmarks, flagged grade‑8 math as an area for focus, and highlighted AP results with 88% of exam takers scoring 3 or higher.
District curriculum leaders presented accountability data that the administration described as evidence of sustained progress after multi-year curricular work.
Julie and Amy summarized Smarter Balanced gains in grades 3–8, noting cohort improvements (for example, a double-digit increase for some grade cohorts) and particular progress at district elementary grades. Julie said the district’s combined Smarter Balanced measure "had an increase of 4%" districtwide, while cohort slides showed larger gains in specific grades.
For secondary assessment benchmarks, presenters noted PSAT and SAT improvements: tenth-grade PSAT scores rose from fall to spring, and the cohort that took the PSAT in the fall then the SAT in the spring recorded an increase. The presenters acknowledged concerns about grade 8 math, where performance declined and will be a target for additional instructional support and staffing decisions. Doctor Macri and curriculum staff said they are convening a crosswalk meeting to align instruction to the SAT expectations and will consider curricular scheduling and course sequencing as part of next steps.
Administrators highlighted AP performance as a major success: staff reported 88% of students taking AP exams scored a 3 or higher, a substantial increase from earlier years. The presenters cautioned that optional exam-taking can affect percentages but noted the number of exams taken this year (229) increased vs. 2019 (212), suggesting broader participation.
Board members thanked staff and stressed the need for continued coaching and identified math coaching as a budget priority for the coming year. Superintendent Doctor Macri said the district will propose targeted coaching positions in the budget to sustain gains and address areas of concern.
