Superintendent reports midyear gains across grades but flags persistent eighth‑grade challenges

Superintendent Jason DeFalco delivered the district’s midyear academic report at the March 23 meeting, saying that STAR beginning‑to‑middle‑year data show improvements in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in most grades, and that growth measures indicate many grade levels are outpacing national norms.

"We're up to 1,520 kids," DeFalco said when summarizing enrollment and context for the data. He noted consistent increases in meeting/exceeding benchmarks at several elementary and high‑school grades and emphasized the difference between achievement (where many students remain in a middle band) and growth (student growth percentiles), which he said tells a more positive story.

DeFalco flagged eighth grade as a particular concern: while eighth‑grade math growth compares more favorably, ELA achievement and overall middle‑year performance remain flat. The district has started targeted measures: an additional interventionist focused on eighth grade, a restarted six‑week after‑school tutoring program that provides transportation (about 17–20 regular participants), pull‑out supports for general‑education students who need help, and added therapeutic supports to address oppositional behaviors that impede retesting and improved outcomes.

Committee members asked whether students are aware of their performance relative to standards and whether test‑taking behaviors (e.g., time on items) affect scores. DeFalco and staff said students can see individual results and that some test‑taking behavior (completing questions rapidly) understates capability; they recommended combining academic interventions with relationship and engagement strategies such as leadership groups and orientation work for ninth graders.

The district also described efforts to address staffing and programming constraints—tapping interventionists, coordinating cross‑district mentoring for teachers, and planning a regional career fair on April 3 to connect students with employers. DeFalco said the work is iterative and that the district will continue to monitor progress and report back to the committee.