Branford 10th Graders' Scores Drop in 2011 CAPTs

Most Connecticut 10th graders in 2011 showed improvements on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) over 2010 and, in many cases, strong improvements over the state’s baseline year of 2007, however Branford's scores dropped from 2010 to 2011.

According to data released Tuesday by the state’s Department of Education, the percentage of grade 10 students scoring at or above the state’s Proficient and Goal levels across most content areas of the standardized tests increased, with small decreases in reading. Student performance on the CAPT has also improved in every area but goal-level reading when compared to the baseline year of 2007.

“The overall trend of increasing percentages of Grade 10 students scoring at the Proficient and Goal levels in mathematics and writing is encouraging, given that Connecticut is also decreasing high school drop-out rates and increasing graduation rates,” acting education Commissioner George Coleman said. “However, the magnitude of the increases and the relatively flat performance in reading and science is disconcerting, given the urgency that I feel about preparing all of our high school graduates to be ready to succeed as they enter college or the state’s workforce.”

Here in Branford, the percentage of students at or above goal in reading dropped from 64.1 percent in 2010 to 48.7 percent in 2011; the scores also dropped from 2007's percentage of 56.5. In science, the scores also dropped from 58.3 percent at or above Goal in 2010 (56 percent in 2007), to 55.5 percent in 2011.

Branford students at or above Goal in Math in 2011 was 55.4 percent, down from 58.9 percent in 2010 but up from 44.3 percent in 2007.

In all areas, Branford's average scores decreased from 2010 to 2011, except for writing. The number of students at or above Goal in writing jumped from 75.2 to 76.8 in 2011. You can see Branford's scores, 2007 to present, here (search by state and then select Branford).

Branford Grade 10 CAPT Scores for 2010 and 2011

The Statewide Percentages

The percentage of students at or above the Goal level increased 1.7 percent in 2011, from 45.5 percent in 2010 to 47.2 percent in 2011. These results also represent an increase, 2.7 percentage points, from the 2007 baseline of 44.5 percent.

The percentage of students at or above the Proficient level increased slightly, 0.2 percent, from 81.5 percent in 2010 to 81.7 percent in 2011. The 2011 results also show a slight increase, 0.3 percentage points, compared to the 2007 baseline of 81.4 percent.

The percentage of students at or above the Goal level in reading decreased 1.1 percentage points in 2011, dropping from 45.9 percent in 2010 to 44.8 percent in 2011. In addition, the 2011 results show a small decrease (0.7 percentage points) over the 2007 baseline of 45.5 percent.

The percentage of students at or above the Proficient level in reading decreased by one percentage point, from 82.9 percent in 2010 to 81.9 percent in 2011. However, the 2011 results show a modest increase - 2.2 percentage points - over the 2007 baseline of 79.7 percent.

In math, the percentage of students at or above Goal increased slightly this year over 2010, 0.7 percentage points, from 48.9 percent in 2010 to 49.6 percent in 2011. However, the 2011 results represent a significant increase, 4.3 percentage points, from the 2007 baseline of 45.3 percent.

The percentage of students at or above the Proficient level increased 1.5 percentage points, from 78.8 percent in 2010 to 80.3 percent in 2011. The 2011 results account for a moderate increase, 3 percentage points, over the 2007 baseline of 77.3 percent.

In writing, the percentage of students at or above the Goal increased 1.7 percentage points, from 59.6 percent in 2010 to 61.3 percent in 2011. The 2011 results represent a significant increase, 8.3 percentage points, from the 2007 baseline of 53 percent.

The percentage of students at or above the Proficient level increased 2.4 percentage points, from 86.2 percent in 2010 to 88.6 percent in 2011. The 2011 results also show a significant increase, 6.3 percentage points, over the 2007 baseline of 82.3 percent.

You can view additional data about the CAPT results, including a breakdown of results in the state’s technical school system, here.