Tests scores rank Rockwell as one of the best schools in Rhode Island

All three Bristol elementary schools feeling good after Spring 2017 PARCC scores are released

By Scott Pickering
Posted 9/15/17

The results are in, and for the third year in a row, Rockwell Elementary School students are setting the standard for student performance in the Bristol Warren Regional School District. For that matter, they’re setting the standard in the state of Rhode Island this year.

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Tests scores rank Rockwell as one of the best schools in Rhode Island

All three Bristol elementary schools feeling good after Spring 2017 PARCC scores are released

Posted

The results are in, and for the third year in a row, Rockwell Elementary School students are setting the standard for student performance in the Bristol Warren Regional School District. For that matter, they’re setting the standard in the state of Rhode Island this year.

Only one public elementary school in the state had better results than Rockwell in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exams, taken by all Rhode Island schools in the spring of 2017. The students in Jamestown’s only elementary school had slightly better performances in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. And in Barrington, Nayatt Elementary School had slightly better Math scores, while Rockwell had slightly better ELA scores. Overall, those three schools stand as the highest-performing elementary schools in Rhode Island.

Measured by the “percentage of students who either meet or exceed the standards,” at least 75 percent of Rockwell students (grades 3 to 5) are performing up to expectations in both ELA and Math. In comparison, across Rhode Island only 35 to 40 percent of students are meeting expectations.

Rockwell Principal Tara McAuliffe said, “I am so proud of our students and teachers. They all worked so hard to achieve this.”

More than just high scores, she is proud of the trends. Rockwell has shown consistent improvement each year, especially in Math, where performance has improved 22 percentage points in two years.

“What makes me so proud is the progress we’re seeing, both overall and in particular students,” Ms. McAuliffe said. “We’re seeing real growth here.” Because they can see very specific data about each student, and about how all students are doing in each area, teachers can learn a lot and make adjustments.

The principal admitted it feels good to be leading one of the highest-performing schools in Rhode Island, but she shared credit with many others. “This is a small school. The parents are super supportive of what we do. The students and teachers work so hard. The teams here are very tight … It’s really all of those things working together.”

Proud as she is, Ms. McAuliffe isn’t afraid to raise the bar. “We’re in the 70s here, which is fantastic. I’d like to see us in the 90s.” Asked if that’s realistic, she said, “Yes, I believe it is. You have to have goals!”

Guiteras Elementary School

While Rockwell has much to celebrate this year, they are not alone in the district. As the accompanying chart shows, Guiteras School students showed tremendous improvement, recording one of the single largest year-to-year improvements in the state. The number of Guiteras students meeting or exceeding expectations rose from 49 percent to 67 percent in ELA, and from 50 percent to 59 percent in Math.

New Guiteras Principal Cynthia Sadler (she began last December) is tremendously proud of the improvements in her school, which she attributes to attitude, hard work and new programs.

First, she cited the “Lucy Calkins” writing program, which was implemented throughout the district last school year. Developed by a woman who has worked in the New York City public schools for 30 years, the curriculum teaches students to write persuasively and creatively, and it gives them plenty of freedom and choice.

“When you see the kinds of descriptive language that the students use, it’s impressive,” Ms. Sadler said. “Last year, our fifth-graders were taught to write memoirs, which were amazing.”

Secondly, she credits the i-Ready math program now being used throughout the district. The online platform personalizes the program based on what each student is capable of, giving them challenges based on their performance level.

Third, she cited “Response to Intervention,” another district-wide program where faculty identify the students who need additional supports, and then provide resources like reading specialists, math coaches, additional classroom staff or new curriculum.

Finally, she believes the culture at Guiteras is moving in a good direction.

“I have a different style than the last principal. I treat the teachers as if they are all professionals, and I give them a lot of independence to be teachers and leaders. I’m here to support them and lift them up … They enjoy the culture we’ve created. It’s working. I promote a collaborative environment, and everything is going really super well.”

Colt Andrews School

The good news continues at Colt Andrews School, where student performance has increased in both ELA and Math each of the past two years. Colt Andrews students made huge gains from 2015 to 2016, and they made slight gains again this year. In 2017 testing, 57 percent of students met expectations in ELA, while 55 percent met expectations in Math.

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.