Education in Stamford, Connecticut

Education in Stamford, Connecticut takes place in both public and private schools and college and university campuses.

Higher education

Stamford, Connecticut has branches of the University of Connecticut, University of Bridgeport and Sacred Heart University. The University of Connecticut's campus is located in a large modern building in downtown that opened in 1998 after extensive renovations to an abandoned former Bloomingdales store. The other two are located in small office parks in Springdale. All are commuter campuses.

tamford public schools

Stamford's public education system is an integrated district with racial balance requirements exceeding those of the state of Connecticut. State standards require that a school's racial makeup be within 25% of the community's racial makeup. Stamford's standard is a more strict 10%. Over the years, schools have become unbalanced. Stamford has three public high schools, Westhill High School, Stamford High School and the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering.

No Child Left Behind Act in Stamford

The state Department of Education usually publishes results of Connecticut Mastery Test scores for districts in July and for individual schools in late August.Gosier, Chris, "Mastery test report shows mixed results: math, writing up while reading falls", news article in "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, pp 1, A4, Stamford edition]

2007 results

Districtwide 2007 Connecticut Mastery Test results for Stamford public schools showed improvements in math and writing compared with the 2006 scores, but lagged in reading. The school district uses the data to adjust teaching. The district has been concentrating its efforts in improving math skills and also in bringing up scores for black students. This year's results showed small gains in almost all grades for black students.

The biggest increase in math scores was from sixth grade students. A total of 54 percent of them reached the state goal, compared with 48 percent in 2006. Fifth grade students had the smallest increase, with 63 percent reaching the state goal, up from 60 percent in 2006. Students in Grades 3 and 7 also had higher scores than the previous year.

In writing, scores improved, with third grade students making the most gains — 60 percent met the state goal, up from 54 percent the previous year. Students in the eighth grade scored only 1 percent higher — 55 percent met the state standard.

In reading, third grade students improved, with 49 percent meeting the state goal, up from 46 percent in 2006. Only 48 percent of fourth grade students met the state goal, down from 55 percent in 2006.

2006 results

Thirteen of the city's 20 public schools made the 2006 list of failing schools, based on Connecticut Mastery Test results, according to the state Department of Education's "No Child Left Behind Act" report (NCLB), five more than in 2005. The NCLB Act sets rising targets for schools, so even though some may have improved since the previous testing, they can be cited if improvement isn't made fast enough, Superintendent of Schools Joshua Starr told "The Advocate" of Stamford (August 24, 2006), which published a list of the local schools provided by Associated Press:

*Rippowam Middle School — "whole school deficiencies in math and reading"
*K.T. Murphy School — "whole school deficiencies in reading"
*Julia A. Stark School — "whole school deficiencies in reading"
*Newfield School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Rogers School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Roxbury School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Springdale School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Toquam Magnet School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Davenport Ridge School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Stillmeadow School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Hart School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Turn of River School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"
*Scofield Middle School — "subgroup deficiencies in math and reading"

In nearby communities, 11 Norwalk schools were cited, one in Greenwich, one in Wilton, none in New Canaan or Darien.

District Reference Group H

Stamford is one of the eight public school systems in District Reference Group H, a classification made by the state Department of Education for the purpose of comparison with the achievement levels of similar schools and districts. District reference groups are defined as "districts whose students' families are similar in eduation, income, occupation and need, and that have roughly similar enrollment". [http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/der/ssp/SCH0506/sr137.pdf] state "Strategic School Profile 2005-2006" for Wilton High School, accessed March 25, 2007] The other seven school districts in the group are Ansonia, Danbury, Derby, East Hartford, Meriden, Norwich, Norwalk, and West Haven. [ [http://discovery.wcgmf.org/communities_bydrg.html] Web page titled "Find a Community: By Educational Reference Group (DRG)" at the "Discovery 2007 / An initiative of the William Caspar Graustein Fund" Web site, accessed March 25, 2007]

Elementary schools

*Westover Elementary School, 412 Stillwater Avenue, dedicated its auditorium on September 16, 2006 to former principal Edmund Barbieri, who became principal in 1979 and continued to head the school for 13 years. He died in 2004. Barbieri built up the magnet program at the school, set up the city's first gifted-students program and the state's first full-day Kindergarten, according to a committee of parents, teachers and city officials who supported the dedication. ["Auditorium dedicated to late principal" news brief, "The Advocate" of Stamford, September 15, 2006, page A14]

Toquam Magnet Elementary School - it focuses on Social Studies as the main study. The former principal, Eileen Swerdlick, was chosen as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools. She was sad to move on but, she did in July 2004

Middle schools

Turn of River Middle School

In early 2007, school officials said they worry that a child might be seriously injured in an accident involving the school's many large glass windows, some of which are floor-to-ceiling and not shatter-resistant. The windows of the building, which was constructed in 1963, are often made of single panes of glass instead of more modern double- or triple-panes that insulate better. A few years before 2007, a student leaning back in his chair accidentally struck a window pane which then shattered.Gosier, Chris, "Middle school to make urgent request for repair funds", news article in "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, March 19, 2007, page A7, Stamford edition]

As of early 2007, a faulty heating system made the building the most expensive to operate of all the city's public schools. In late January 2007 the school was almost shut down when ruptured water pipes left 25 to 30 classrooms without heat on a Sunday and Monday. The pipes ruptured because an exterior heating system had been improperly installed, according to school officials. The school's fire alarm system often produces false alarms, even in the wee hours of the morning, according to a school official.

Rippowam Middle School

Located on High Ridge Road, Rippowam is the district's largest traditional middle school.Gosier, Chris, "Scofield parents upset by principal change", news article, "The Advocate (Stamford)" of Stamford, Connecticut, July 9, 2007]

George Gilberti, principal of the Scofield Magnet Middle School for the 2006-2007 school year, was reassigned as principal at Rippowam for the school year beginning in the fall of 2007. Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr said Gilberti has experience in raising math scores and has been in charge of large traditional middle schools in New York City and Long Island. Gilberti switched places with Jan Rossman, who took over Gilberti's job at Scofield, where she had previously been assistant principal. The transfers were part of a large number under a policy by Starr to give administrators more varied experiences.

Various groups use the Rippowam building on weekends, including a The Stamford Youth Foundation's chess league and wrestling program, a youth basketball program in the gym, a Chinese school on Sundays, and, starting after Labor Day in 2007, the German School of Connecticut. [http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-german5jul16,0,2927603,print.story] Gosier, Chris, "Rippowam Middle School to play host to German school", news article, "The Advocate (Stamford)" of Stamford, Connecticut, July 16, 2007, accessed July 18, 2007]

German School of Connecticut

The German School holds classes on Saturday mornings and early afternoons. The language school had been renting space in Weston Middle School, but town officials there decided they only wanted to rent to organizations that primarily served residents of that community. Since Summer 2007 the school has relocated to Rippowam Middle School in Stamford.

The German School currently teaches more than 300 students each Saturday in 20 to 22 classrooms. The school also runs classes in Hartford. In addition to German language, the school teaches German history, geography, literature, poetry contests, music instruction, German holiday celebrations, and participation in the Steuben Parade in New York City. Students range from adults to children as young as 2 years old. Students drive from as far as 90 minutes away to attend the classes, according to German School officials The auditorium is used by various groups, including the drama group (High School Musical, Aladdin, A Christmas Carol). The website is: http://germanschoolct.org

Charter schools

tamford Academy

Stamford Academy is a charter school run by the Domus Foundation. Michael McGuire is the director of the school. The school accepts students who have failed out of other high schools in the area.In the summer of 2007 a student selected by school officials traveled to Benin as a "cultural ambassador" who would help build classrooms and live with villagers as part of the Bridgeport, Connecticut-based Higher Education and Responsibility through Overseas Exchange program. [Lee, Natasha, "Building bridges: Student ambassadors head to West Africa", article in "The Advocate" of Stamford, pp A9-A10, Norwalk edition]

Trailblazers Academy

Trailblazers Academy, a charter school with 150 students in grades 6 through 8 run by the nonprofit Domus Foundation of Stamford,Gosier, Chris, "Wright Tech upgrades delayed", article, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, November 22, 2007, accessed via newsbank.com on January 4, 2008] has been housed in the J.M. Wright Technical High School building at Scalzi Park since 2000. Trailblazers students have struggled in traditional schools. As of the 2006-2007 school year, about 98 percent of the students were from Stamford.Gosier, Chris, "Legal issue may push charter school out of Wright Tech", article, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, December 24, 2007, accessed via newsbank.com on July 19, 2008]

Trailblazers features small class sizes, after-school activities and an expanded school day that lasts until 6 p.m. The school holds a weekly ceremony recognizing successes. Family advocates are assigned to students to give them extra social and emotional guidance along with help with academics.

J.M. Wright Technical High School

J.M. Wright Technical High School, located just south of Scalzi Park, is a vocational school run by the State of Connecticut.

Private Education

The city has several private schools, including King and Low-Heywood Thomas School and Trinity Catholic High School.

The Mead School, founded in 1969, serves children in preschool programs through Grade 8. The school, with an enrollment of 178 in the 2004-2005 academic year, adds programs in drama, music, art and dance to a traditional curriculum. The school also emphasizes community service and skills in negotiation and mediation. ["Handbook of Private Schools: An annual descriptive survey of independent education", 86th edition, 2005 (Boston: Porter Sargent Publishers Inc.) page 770]

Bi-Cultural Day School

The Bi-Cultural Day School is a co-educational, nonprofit Jewish institution founded in 1956 and serving children in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. Students in Grade 8 spend the month of February in Israel. The school had an enrollment of 431 students in the 2004-2005 academic year. ["Handbook of Private Schools: An annual descriptive survey of independent education", 86th edition, 2005 (Boston: Porter Sargent Publishers Inc.) pages 769-770]

The school's curriculum is a complement of secular and Judaic studies, which include, according to the school's Web site, "an understanding of Jewish values, a broad knowledge of Jewish history and religious practice, sensitivity to community needs, a strong bond with Israel and an appreciation of their dual heritage as American Jews". Hebrew language, Torah and all aspects of Jewish observance are taught. In the past decade (up to 2007), the school has organized and sent more than 200 marchers a year to the annual Israel Day Parade in New York. [ [http://www.bcds.org/OurSchool/AboutSchool.htm] Web page titled "About Our School" at the Bi-Cultural Day School Web site, accessed April 13, 2007]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.stamfordpublicschools.org/Topics.aspx Stamford Public Schools]
* [http://www.cityofstamford.org/content/25/50/2454/2250.aspx The William Pitt Child Development Center]
* [http://www.stamfordadulted.com/ Stamford Adult Education]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/schools.page?city=Stamford&state=CT Stamford page at Great Schools website]

Private schools

*The King and Low-Heywood Thomas School [http://www.klht.org]
*The Bi Cultural Day School [http://www.bcds.org]

Catholic schools

* [http://www.trinitycatholic.org/ Trinity Catholic High School] , 926 Newfield Ave., Kevin Burke, president and chief financial officer; Robert D'Aquila, principal
* [http://www.st-cecilia.net/ St. Cecilia Elementary School] , PreK-5, 1186 Newfield Ave.; Joann Borchetta , principal
* [http://www.sacredheartofstamford.org/website/publish/default.shtml Sacred Heart School] PreK for 3- and 4-year-old children; 1 Schuyler Ave.; Sister Elizabeth Reyes, head teacher
* [http://www.holyspiritschool.info/ Holy Spirit School] , 403 Scofieldtown Road, Pat Torchen, principal
* [http://www.ourladystaroftheseaschool.org/ Our Lady Star of the Sea School] PreK-5; Gail Ryan, principal; From the school Web site: " [T] here is one class per grade. We strive to have 25 students in grades Kindergarten through 5th Grade and 20 children in each of the Pre Kindergarten 3 and Pre Kindergarten 4 programs. We strive to have 190 students enrolled in the school."
*Trinity Catholic Middle School (no Web site found), Grades 6-8, 948 Newfield Ave., the Rev. Cyprian LaPastina, principal

Colleges and universities

*University of Connecticut, Stamford campus [http://www.stamford.uconn.edu/]
*Fairfield University [http://www.fairfield.edu/]
*Norwalk Community College [http://www.commnet.edu/choice/colleges.asp?c=norwalk]
*Sacred Heart University [http://www.sacredheart.edu/] has a campus in the Springdale neighborhood of Stamford.
*The University of Bridgeport [http://www.bridgeport.edu/pages/1.asp] has a campus in the Springdale neighborhood.