Vernon Superintendent: Students Learned, Achieved, Succeeded In 2024 ​

VERNON, CT — Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary Monday night presented a year in review report for 2024.

The theme is "2024 Vernon Public Schools: Together, Students Learn, Achieve and Succeed."
Macary said, "Traditionally, during this time of the year, everyone starts the New Year by making resolutions and striving to make their lives better than the year before. Twenty Twenty-Four was a very good year in our schools, yet it still had some of the different challenges created by the long-term effects of the Covid-19 global health pandemic for our students.

"We have had to re-focus on how we are going to create an optimal learning
environment in all our classrooms for Vernon students to grow by learning, achieving and succeeding.

"Today's students have different academic, social, and emotional needs than those of earlier generations. Their needs are continually changing, and schools need to adapt. To accomplish this transformation, the Vernon Public Schools must take steps towards maximizing student growth through high-quality teaching and learning. These steps are grounded in the district's core beliefs to: advocate a whole child approach to student learning, maximize student performance and set high expectations, and integrate family and community with the education system. These core beliefs drive our educational work.

"The Vernon Public Schools administration needed to adapt to this transformational change by focusing on the essence of education. As stated by Martin Luther King, Jr., 'The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character–that is the goal of true education.' This quote helps us realize the true meaning of education. He reminds us that academic, social, and emotional learning must occur in our education – both in schools and the community.

"Despite all the challenges in 2024, here are some impressive accomplishments this past year."

Macary highlighted the year:

• The National Blue Ribbon recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. We are proud to have had two schools recognized in the past 5 years – Northeast Elementary in 2020 and Skinner Road School in 2023. The National Blue Ribbon School recognition is one of the highest accolades in the field of education. A National Blue Ribbon Award is like getting an ‘Olympic Gold Medal’ in the field of Education.
• The best indicator of student learning is Connecticut’s Next Generation Accountability System Results, which is a broad set of 12 indicators that help tell the story of how well a school is preparing its students for success in college, careers, and life. School Accountability Results ares similar to a student’s report card – looking at the overall growth in one’s education compared to others. The CT State Department of Education released the 2023-2024 Accountability Results forSchools. Vernon earned 73.3% points, in comparison to the CT State Average 70.8%. Vernon ranked No. 1 (with a score of 73.3) among the 36 Alliance Districts (K-12) in Connecticut. This wasan amazing accomplishment considering.
• Based on the Connecticut Next Generation Accountability results, schools with significant growth and achievement are deemed “Schools of Distinction.” This year, the following Vernon Schools were recognized: Lake Street School for its high growth (high needs students) in Mathematics; Northeast School for its high growth (all students & high needs students) in Mathematics; and Skinner Road School for its high performance and high growth (all students) in Mathematics, its high growth (high needs students) in both ELA and Math, and being a Category One School (Top 10% of all schools in CT).
• The 2024 Smarter Balanced (SBA) Results showed that the Vernon Public Schools students have, for the third straight year, outperformed the state average in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Out of the 36 CT Alliance Districts, Vernon students' scores were first (No. 1) in both ELA and Math results. The data also shows that Vernon students have not only recovered from learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic but are ahead of the statewide average.
• During the 2023-2024 school year, 261 Rockville High School students earned a total of 1,595 college credits through dual enrollment programs. Students either passed Advanced Placement exams, completed University of Connecticut, Eastern CT, or Southern CT State University Early College Experience courses, or completed an articulated class with Manchester, Middlesex Community, or Goodwin College. The 51 Early College Experience course offerings include science and math, but also Contemporary Social Issues in Sport, Introduction to Human Rights, Environmental Science, American Studies, Biotechnology, Digital Media Design, Spanish, French, Public Speaking, Advanced, Creative Writing, If you Love it – Teach it, Plant System Fundamentals and Animal Behavior.
• By June of 2024, 122 students in the Class of 2024 students received college credit through their academic studies at Rockville High School. That is 58% of the graduating class. The credits earned by all RHS students during this time translate to a total of $1,346,847 in savings on college tuition and fees. In addition, 59 seniors were awarded community scholarships totaling $322,000.
• Over 71% of the Rockville High School Graduates (Class of 2024) are furthering their education at the college level. Some of the colleges our students are attending include Brigham Young University, Dartmouth College, Embry-Riddle University, Louisiana State (LSU) University, Syracuse University, United States Naval Academy, University of California (San Diego), University of Connecticut, University of Kentucky, and Worchester Polytechnic Institute.
• Forty-two (42) Rockville High School students were winners in the 2024 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. RHS students received 87 awards this year (59 in 2023), including 12 Gold Keys, 23 Silver Keys, and 51 Honorable Mentions, the highest number of any participating high school in the state of Connecticut. Athena Lavigne and Jenna Michaud received a 2024 American Voices Nomination for Best in Show.
• E-mail from a Vernon Community Member: “The Town has been waiting more than 10 years to see an issue of the Vernon Voice as well done as the one just received. A great informational issue with a terrific main subject. Due to word of mouth, this could easily be the most widely read ever. Everyone will relate to some part[s]. Anyone who reads it will be really happy: “I did not know that!” They will know Vernon is a very good school system, and continues to get better.... Some of us look at the Cover Page and smile. Just one of the many programs you introduced that works. Possibly the best to make a well-rounded, ready Graduate. So a BIG thank you to you, the administration, the teachers, and the support staff. Jobs well done!!”
• Eighteen (18) Seniors from the RHS Class of 2024 signed up to play a sport in college. They include Jared Burchell at Central Connecticut State University for Track & Field; James Custer at Southern Connecticut State University for Swimming; Tiarnan Doyle at Assumption College for Baseball; Troy Enamait at SUNY Cobleskill for Baseball; Kennedy Gidarakos at Westfield State University for Softball; John Glidden at Southern Connecticut State University for Track & Field; Lexington Hunter at Central Connecticut State University for Football; Jordyn Karpoff at St. Joseph's University (NY) for Basketball; Nora Locicero at Western New England University for Wrestling; Gabby McKayle at Nichols College for Volleyball and Track & Field; Audrey Molin at Eastern Connecticut State University for Field Hockey; Carson Morgan at University of New Haven for Baseball and Football; Alina Niemczyk at St. Joseph's University for Swimming; Jocelyn Niemczyk at Bryant University for Swimming; Ryan Tierney at Lasell College for Volleyball; Evelyn Tyrell at Albertus Magnus for Soccer; Colin Yarusewicz at Westfield State University for Football; Ava Zuccalo at Western New England University for Wrestling & Track.
• In June 2024, the district conducted an end of the year survey of over 450 people in the community and received the following results: 85.6% of the people rated the Overall Education in Vernon a grade of “A” or “B.” A majority (92.5%) say they receive favorable services from the teaching staff in our schools. Additionally, 86.5% of the respondents say the Vernon Public School District is heading in the right direction based on the mission and vision statement in terms of educating their children.
• The Vernon Board of Education won three Bonnie B. Carney Awards of Excellence for Educational Communications under special projects for “Board Member Handbook” and “School District Billboards” at the 2024 CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) Convention.
• The Vernon BOE also received a third award for the “Vernon Voice Magazine” under Newsletters. These three communication awards highlight the positive community outreach in the school district.
• The Vernon Public Schools was highlighted in the New York Times for its recovery efforts caused by the Covid-19 learning losses and achievement in mathematics, according to Harvard research.
• The Vernon Board of Education won the CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) Board of Distinction Award in 2024. The CABE Board Awards are designed to recognize boards that provide effective leadership to their districts through the use of good practices. This program acknowledges the importance of school board members and superintendents working together as effective teams. This is the ninth year (2016-2024) in a row that Vernon has won this Level II Award, which is the highest bestowed by CABE. Vernon was one of only 17 school districts in Connecticut to receive this prestigious leadership award in 2024.
• Lastly, in 2013 the Vernon Public Schools was deemed an Alliance District, by the State Department of Education. Defined by CT State Statutes, the school system was one of the 30 lowest performing districts in Connecticut. In 2024, there are 201 school districts in Connecticut between cities, towns, regionals, magnets, charters, etc. Using the Next Generation Accountability Index, (CSDE Report Card), the results in November 2024 rank the Vernon Public Schools 99 out of 201 school districts in Connecticut. Clearly, the growth and improvement in Vernon Schools’ education makes it no longer one of the 30 lowest performing districts category.

Said Macary, "As you can see, the Vernon Public Schools has achieved much in 2024. The above accomplishments clearly demonstrate the potential of the Vernon Public Schools to be one of the best districts in Connecticut. Together — students, parents, families, teachers, staff members, administrators, board members, and the community work towards student growth every day and make our district a better place for all children. I am proud to be a part of this culture, and I can say that in 2024.

"Together, students learn, achieve and succeed."