A New Tradition: Academic Awards

This year, Hartford Public Schools presented its first-ever Academic Awards. More than 100 students from 29 elementary schools and their families were honored for excellence in reading, mathematics, science and perfect attendance.

Judging from the loud applause for the winners and the hundreds of snap shots that parents took, the ceremony held at our Sport and Medical Sciences Academy was a huge success.

Our hope is that, as the awards become a tradition in Hartford Public Schools, more students will strive to achieve this important recognition.

Vastly improved student success is the main objective of our reform strategy of creating an all-choice system of high-performing schools. The district expects to make the awards an annual event that showcases student success and, in so doing, builds on the momentum we’ve created to close the achievement gap. A second ceremony for high-achieving secondary school students will be held later in the year.

Last year, our students scored the first increase in seven years on both the Connecticut Mastery Test and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test. The increase in the percentage of students within goal range on the CMT was more than three times the statewide average.

A total of 16 schools improved meaningfully over the previous year, while four schools moved down in achievement for an unprecedented net gain of 12 schools that surpassed expectations.

We raised the cohort (four-year) graduation rate by 7 percentage points – from 29 percent to 36 percent. In 2008-2009, we also opened 11 new high-achievement academies and learning centers and approved five more for 2009-2010.

The awards have the potential of motivating further success. They are based on three principal criteria, devised by Dr. James Thompson, the district’s assistant superintendent for elementary schools, and his staff.

The first requirement is that the student must have reached a Level 4 or Level 5 on the CMT. Level 5 is the highest score that a student can achieve.

The second requirement is that the student be a positive role model for his or her peers. He or she must be of good character, show leadership, have no suspensions or lateness’s on record, always come to school in uniform, have excellent behavior and perform some form of community service.

Finally, the student must display a passion for the subject matter for which he or she is receiving the award.

We look forward to many more Academic Award ceremonies.