Bridgewater Elementary reports higher attendance, strong third- and fourth-grade math results

Interim Principal Hope Langston presented Bridgewater Elementary’s 2024–25 school-improvement highlights to the Northfield Public School Board on Oct. 14, reporting an average daily attendance rate of 95% for the year and a decline in chronic absenteeism from 12% to 7.3%.

The presentation, which Langston said was grounded in the district strategic plan and district benchmark data, highlighted strong third- and fourth-grade math results and improvements for students eligible for free-or-reduced-price (FRP) meals. Langston said the third-grade FRP proficiency rate was higher than about 75% of comparable schools statewide.

“We had an average consistent attendance rate for the 2425 school year of 95%,” Langston told the board. She credited the school’s MTSS team, building leadership and family engagement work for the attendance gains and said staff intervene quickly when patterns emerge.

Langston described three primary goals for the school year: raise the percentage of students meeting grade-level benchmarks toward an 80% target; increase employee engagement survey participation and scores; and improve parent/caregiver survey participation and clarity about student feedback. She said staff will continue grade-level “day to day” meetings and use the EduCLIMBER data tool more broadly to streamline information on interventions and progress.

One example Langston offered of the new data workflow: “You can flag a student as receiving an intervention, and that flag stays with that student. And you can see the history of that flag very easily.” She said teachers report the tool makes classroom data and intervention status easier to review during collaborative planning.

Langston named specific staff who supported the work: Adam Danielson (attendance team lead) and Carrie Duba (family engagement navigator). She also described an interim leadership step: Shane Buyer will “be stepping into this role officially starting on Monday” to support Bridgewater during a personnel transition.

Board members asked questions about cohort score changes between third and fourth grade and about state testing participation. Langston said opt-outs had not materially affected her school’s tested denominator in prior reporting years and that elementary participation historically has remained high.

The presentation concluded with Langston and the board discussing next steps to increase survey participation and to sustain MTSS and PLC practices.

A copy of the Bridgewater improvement showcase was distributed to board members at the meeting.