http://www.courant.com/data-desk/hc-connecticut-sat-scores-by-school-20141007-htmlstory.html
“The Fairfield County high schools in Darien, Wilton, Weston, New Canaan, Westport and Ridgefield recorded the best SAT scores among public high schools in the state in 2014. With an average score of 600 in writing, 611 in math and 588 in critical reading, Darien High School had the highest combined scores in the state”
Observations:
-New Canaan was number one in the state in 2012. In 2011 Forbes called us #2 in the nation.
-We rose from 5th in 2013 to 4th in 2014.
– Now, all three scores (Math, Reading, Writing) trail those of Darien and in the case of Math they trail by a considerable margin (611 in Darien vs. 594 in New Canaan)
-The ACT is now a more popular test than the SAT and the SAT is being redesigned this year. These rankings could change dramatically next year with a redesigned SAT.
Questions parents are asking in New Canaan:
-How has our early adoption of Connecticut’s common core standards affected these scores?
-Why have New Canaan’s math scores decreased consistently each year for the last few years?
– Did we slip because of all of the curriculum changes of the last few years?
New Canaan ranked #17 in Connecticut according to U.S. News and World Report earlier this year. There was an outcry and the school administration has responded by changing the policy with respect to who takes AP classes and the AP tests. While it shouldn’t be a major indicator of school quality, it has become the major driver in the U.S. News rankings. If instead of looking at AP scores as an indication of “college readiness” we looked at only the Math Scores or Reading Scores New Canaan ranks higher than rival Darien with scores of 98% and 98% proficient vs. 97% and 96% proficient.
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/connecticut/rankings
It will be interesting to see if Dr. Bryan Luizzi can raise those SAT math scores and regain the number one ranking. I’d like to see those AP participation numbers continue to climb as long as US News continues to exert the influence it does. Its important to note that Dr. Luizzi has been our superintendent of schools for less than a year. Give him time, he will get it done.