Hartford Public Schools’ Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy recently earned Category 1 School of Distinction in the State of Connecticut, based on the Connecticut Next Generation Accountability System (NGAR). Using 12 indicators to evaluate how well schools prepare students for success in college, careers, and life, NGAR provides a perspective on overall school performance. Category 1 schools like Renzulli are thus recognized as the highest performing schools in the state.
Not only did the school make substantial progress from academic years 2022-23 to 2023-24, but Renzulli is now the first HPS school to ever achieve Category 1 status. In addition, the Connecticut State Department of Education recognizes Schools of Distinction for their overall performance, academic growth, or significant improvement. These schools are in the top 10% performing schools statewide. Renzulli is now identified as a School of Distinction for High Performance and High Growth in Math. Congratulations to all our students and educators at Renzulli Academy!
Commendations are also in order for Betances Learning Lab and Montessori Magnet School at Annie Fisher for achieving Category 2 status. This Is a return to category 2 status for Betances, and a first-time accolade achievement for Montessori at Fisher.
Meanwhile, Montessori Magnet School at Batchelder and Classical Magnet School exited Focus Support status; the Montessori school due to increased attention to instruction, and increased efforts in professional learning in the Montessori model and ELA. Classical Magnet went to work on improving their mathematics instruction. Notably, University High School of Science and Engineering and Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School achieved an accountability index of 70 or higher. (The state average is 70.8.)
Nineteen HPS schools boosted their Accountability Indices since the 2022-2023 school year with Rawson School, Renzulli Academy, and Expeditionary Learning Academy at Moylan (ELAMS) leading the way with 10 or more points of improvement. Nine schools outperformed their pre-pandemic accountability metrics: Classical Magnet, Dwight Bellizzi Dual Language Academy, Sanchez School, Wish School, Betances Learning Lab, Montessori Magnet at Batchelder, Naylor School, Rawson School, and Renzulli Academy.
“We stand proud of the hard work of all our faculty and staff in collaboration with families and students at Hartford Public Schools,” states Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, “Together we are working to provide an educational community that fosters inspiration, high expectations, curiosity, and provides opportunity for all of our students. I am grateful to all of our school staff and faculty for their dedication, time, energy, and perseverance.“
To learn more about Hartford Public Schools and the Connecticut Next Generation Accountability System, you can watch our December 3 Board of Education Workshop
here.
