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Region 4 presents student-achievement trends, school goals and launches district climate survey
Summary
Presenters reviewed 2024–25 student performance data, Valley Regional’s national ranking, strategic priorities for 2025–26, and the district’s forthcoming Panorama climate survey (Nov. 10–24, 2025). Finance staff also presented ADM methodology and allocation percentages used for 2026–27 budgeting.
Administrators presented a multi-part academic update at the Region 4 Board of Education meeting on Nov. 6 that included student-achievement trends, strategic goals for 2025–26, the district’s school-climate survey plan and an explanation of Average Daily Membership (ADM) calculations used in budget allocations.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sarah Brzozowy and school principals presented the 2024–25 annual report and student achievement data for John Winthrop Middle School and Valley Regional High School. Presenters reviewed Smarter Balanced and SAT results, Advanced Placement and IB participation data, and comparative district tables. Valley Regional noted inclusion on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–26 National Best High Schools list.
The administration outlined strategic priorities for 2025–26 including targeted interventions to improve ELA and math proficiency, expanded intervention coaching roles (reading teacher, math interventionist/coach), a standards-aligned grading approach, implementation of a collaborative MTSS model, and NEASC accreditation preparations.
The district plans to administer a Panorama school-climate survey for students (grades 3–12), staff and families from Nov. 10–24, 2025; the survey is intended to measure perceptions of safety, belonging, engagement and well-being to inform School Climate Improvement Plans. Administrators cited alignment with Connecticut’s 2023–2025 school climate mandate (C.G.S. §10-222hh) and said individualized school reports will be provided in December.
Finance Director Robert Grissom reviewed the ADM methodology used to allocate Region 4’s budget among Chester, Deep River and Essex for the 2026–27 budget year. The ADM presentation explained the reliance on PowerSchool Oct. 1 counts, adjustments for out-of-district placements and magnet/technical-school exclusions required by Connecticut statute, and included the district’s calculated 3-way and 4-way ADM percentages and tables of school-level enrollment counts used in the calculations. Presenters noted small percentage shifts compared with the prior year and explained that the ADM figures will guide the towns’ shares of next year’s budget.
Administrators emphasized the use of data-driven interventions, staffing reallocations to support reading and math intervention work, and plans to use Panorama reports to set measurable climate goals at each school.
