by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls Central School Board presented its State of the Schools report at its August meeting. The District is improving in almost every measurement.
Hoosick Falls moved up in The Capital District Business Review rankings from number 34 to number 26.
The percentage of students earning a Regents diploma remained steady, from 87% last year to 86% this year, but the percentage earning an advanced Regents diploma went from 43% last year to 51% this year.
The graduation rate remained steady, from 93% last year to 92% this year. The number of course failures went down dramatically, from 178 last year to 79 this year. The Regents passing rate was very slightly up from 90% last year to 91% this year, but the Regents Mastery rate was down a bit from 39% last year to 35% this year.
Some Goals Exceeded, Some Not
The District had set goals for student performance for the 2013-2014 year. They exceeded the goal for Regents passing rate but fell short of the goal of 40% Regents mastery rate, achieving a 35% mastery rate.
The District exceeded its goal of 90% graduation rate and exceeded its goal of 50% advanced Regents diploma but missed the goal of 90% Regents diplomas, reaching just 86%. The District set a goal of 20% improvement in proficiency rates on the grades 3-8 Math and English Assessments. They actually improved 1.5% in English and 5.4% in Math on those tests.
Sports And Arts Excel
In addition to progress in academic performance, there was much to celebrate in sports and the arts. The District had multiple teams that were sectional champs and league champs, and nine of the school’s 13 sports teams were scholar-athlete teams. The Drama Department produced two very successful shows, the Choir performed in many prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, and many of the student musicians made the All-County band, and three made the All-State band.
The full State of the School Report is available from the District Office.