Connecticut Schools See 4th Year of Rising Test Scores

Connecticut students just marked their fourth consecutive year of academic improvement, with test scores rising in every subject and chronic absenteeism dropping to levels not seen since the pandemic began.

The wins are visible in the numbers. Math and science performance has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, while English scores continue climbing. More importantly, 35,000 additional students are now attending school regularly compared to four years ago.

Chronic absenteeism dropped from a concerning 23.7% in 2021-22 to 16.4% this school year. That's 7.3 percentage points of progress, with ninth and tenth graders showing the most dramatic improvements.

The gains reach every corner of Connecticut's student body. Students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and English learners all posted higher scores this year, proving that targeted support can lift all boats.

State officials invested $11 million in proven strategies to turn things around. A statewide literacy coaching program received $2 million, while high-dosage tutoring got another $2 million. The Learner Engagement and Attendance Program sent teachers on $7 million worth of home visits to connect with families and understand why kids were missing school.

"Some folks will say these seem like small numbers," said Ajit Gopalakrishnan, the state's chief performance officer. "But what are seemingly small improvements really translate to thousands of students statewide who are performing at a higher level."

The Ripple Effect

The progress extends beyond test scores into real opportunities. Woodstock School Superintendent Chris Roche emphasized that each data point represents a student gaining skills they'll carry into their future.

These aren't the kind of tests teachers can game with memorization drills. The state's performance index measures true mastery of grade-level standards, meaning students are genuinely learning more.

Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker isn't satisfied with simply returning to 2019 levels. "Our goal, frankly our expectation, is not to meet our pre-pandemic levels of achievement, but to exceed them," she said.

With four straight years of improvement and evidence that focused investment works, Connecticut's students are proving that pandemic learning loss doesn't have to be permanent.