MSAD 51 presents 2024–25 annual report showing steady graduation and rising AP participation; discipline events prompt follow-up

Superintendent Porter delivered MSAD 51’s 2024–25 annual report on Dec. 18, highlighting stable graduation and rising participation in advanced coursework while noting increases in recorded discipline events that the board asked staff to explain further.

The report said the district enrolls 2,234 students, employs 444 faculty and staff, and lists 2,742 parents and guardians in district records. Instructional staff make up roughly 75.8% of employees; 231 staff hold a master’s degree or higher. Porter told the board the annual report and an accompanying data dashboard (both public) allow the community to view multi‑year trends.

Academic indicators included a 97% graduation rate for the cohort reported, and a rise in advanced course-taking: roughly 50% of high‑school students took at least one AP or IB course, with 16% taking three or more. Porter said AP exam scores of 3 or higher were 87% and IB passing scores were about 77%.

Board members pressed for more context on student services and discipline. The superintendent initially cited 64 restraints and seclusions for the year but corrected that figure to 32 during the presentation, explaining the higher number represented total events and that some students experienced multiple incidents. Suspension counts were reported at 27 events; Porter said many are in‑school suspensions and that repeat occurrences can inflate event totals versus unique students.

Attendance and related metrics were a focus: average daily attendance held at 95%, with 0.2% of students meeting the state definition of truancy. Special‑education identification was reported at about 13.5% of the student body. Porter and board members discussed how some drops or increases in metrics (for example, Pathways participation) reflect staffing or program changes rather than a single systemic failure.

Board members asked for more granular data — by building and grade level — on restraints, suspensions and truancy to determine whether patterns require additional interventions. Porter agreed to provide those breakdowns and to follow up if any trends persist.

The board praised Melissa Porter and district staff for compiling the report and for public access to the dashboard. The district reiterated that the annual report is a snapshot and invited the public to review the full document on the district website.

The next procedural step: the annual report will be posted to the district website and become part of the public record; board members asked administration to return with more detailed breakdowns in a future report.