Headmaster Presents Shelton’s CAPT, AP Reports

At this month’s regularly scheduled meeting, held December 26, headmaster Dr. Beth Smith reviewed test scores and student success rates for both the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) and the Advanced Placement (AP) program.

Overall, Dr. Smith presented the Board with positive findings: Shelton students’ CAPT scores are up across the board, and while the AP program has some rough edges, students are successfully completing the courses available to them.

New to the CAPT testing process at SHS is a three-tiered scientific research based intervention plan designed to help improve scores even more. The plan includes a reading consultant, academic support center and tutoring in the library/media center throughout the entire school day.

While Smith noted she is “extremely pleased” with the reading consultant, it is still “too early to tell” if this intervention program indeed gives numbers a boost.

Some key takeaway points from the CAPT data:

• For grade 10 math, across the board at both goal and proficiency levels, Shelton is above where the state has been for the last three years.
• There was a large jump in grade 10 science scores between 2010 and 2011 because 2011 was the first year the school system made it a requirement to pass CAPT science to graduate.
• While grade 10 reading and writing scores have dropped slightly compared to last year, they are both still above the state proficiency levels
• This past year was the first time SHS utilized a reading consultant, who teaches three sections of a reading strategies course. “We are extremely pleased,” Smith noted.

The AP program offers college-level courses, and each concludes with a college-level exam developed and scored by university faculty members. Scores of three or higher are accepted as class credits at most colleges.

Key takeaway points from the AP data:

• For the first year, SHS had an AP coordinator, Kathy Riddle, who organized and administered the AP program in its entirety, including receiving, distributing, administering and returning exams.
• In 2011, 100 percent of students in AP English Language and AP English Literature earned a score of three or higher
• 24 percent of the class of 2011 scored three or higher on at least one AP exam
• The number of AP courses available to SHS students has decreased due to budget cuts. The school offered 14 classes in the 2009-2010 school year, as compared to this academic year’s 10 available AP classes.
• Vision for the future includes offering AP studio art, AP chemistry, AP environmental science and AP computer science.