2/7/2023
Dear Farmington River Families,
Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas. A link to our school’s 2022 report card is available at Farmington River Elementary School. A link to our district’s report card is available at Farmington River Regional School District. A link to the School and District Report Card Quick Facts and Glossary is available here.
The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.
Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school.
You will notice on our report card that our MCAS performances improved in 2022. We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve our school. We see parents as critical partners in the success of our students and school, and we are grateful for your continued support.
Finally, if your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds, you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:
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Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach,
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Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver,
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The college degree and major of your child’s teacher, and,
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Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
If you have questions about our school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact Robert R. Putnam. To see our district’s report card or to search for other schools’ report cards, visit reportcards.doe.mass.edu
Sincerely,
Rob Putnam
Interim Superintendent
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10/11/2022
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released the 2022 MCAS and Accountability on September 29. I prepared a preliminary report for the FRRSD School Committee which I presented at the October 3, 2022 meeting. You can review the presentation by following this link. This presentation is based on the combined 3-6 scores since it provides a larger sample size than individual classes.
The bottom line is that the FRES performances were greatly improved over previous years.
Academic Achievement
The 3-6 ELA results for the past two years have been above the state 3-8 average and compare favorably with our neighboring elementary schools. The 2022 3-6 Mathematics results were appreciably above the state 3-8 results and also compare favorably with neighboring districts. The science results are strictly 5th grade data and the 2022 results are well above the state average.
Student Growth
The Student Growth Percentile (SGP) is a measure of student progress (growth) from year to year which is another way to look at the school’s performance. SGPs of 1-39 are associated with low growth. SGPs of 40-59 are associated with typical growth. SGPs above 60 are associated with high growth. The FRES 3-6 SGP for ELA was 56. The FRES 3-6 SGP for Mathematics was 65. This is altogether a good showing.
Accountability Percentile
An accountability percentile between 1 and 99 is reported for most schools. This number is an indication of the school’s overall performance relative to other schools that administer similar assessments, and is calculated using up to two years of data for all accountability indicators. Accountability percentiles are not calculated for districts, or for any school without sufficient achievement and growth data in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. The FRES Percentile was 52 for 2022 which is appreciably higher than it has been in previous years.
Last year FRES implemented After School Learning Initiatives, Block Scheduling, Problem of the Day, 2-3 pm Block for struggling students, MCAS Practice, and Use of specialists on non-specials blocks. I have been told that these initiatives were responsible for the improvements in 2022.
The FRES staff is committed to building on these improvements throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Sincerely,
Rob Putnam
Interim Principal/Superintendent
