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About Hartford Public Schools

Where We Were
Just as Hartford has long been one of the poorest cities in the country, the Hartford School District has long been one of the poorest performing districts in Connecticut. For the past few years, standardized test scores have been far below state averages in writing, mathematics, science and reading, with some districts performing at rates three times higher than Hartford in some subjects. In addition to low academic performance on state tests, the Hartford Public School District has an unacceptably low high school graduation rate, measured at 42% in 2009, compared to 95% for the state as a whole. 

In 2006, after multiple years of declining results and even a failed state intervention effort, the Hartford Board of Education embarked on an aggressive system-wide reform effort to significantly improve the city's public schools.  Under the leadership of a new School Superintendent, Dr. Steven Adamowski, the District embarked on a long-term plan to systematically create a portfolio of high performing schools.  Anchored by a well-articulated Strategic Operating Plan, the District targeted its efforts on turning around chronically low performing schools – in most cases redesigning the schools with nationally proven, theme-based models – and on instituting a system of school choice for parents and students. 

Learn more about the Strategic Operating Plan.

Where We Are
To date, results of Hartford's reform efforts have been encouraging.  In 2009, Hartford students showed a 20% increase on standardized test scores over 2007.  This rate of improvement is largely due to the performance of students in grades 3-8 on the Connecticut Mastery Test, where Hartford's improvement from 2008 to 2009 averaged 3.7 points across all subjects.  This improvement was the highest among peer districts and compares to a statewide average increase of 2.5 points for the same period.  Likewise, high school graduation rates, while are still far too low, have increased from 29% in 2007 to 42% in 2009. 

Where We're Going
While Hartford schools are still performing significantly below most other school districts in the state, it is clear that reform efforts underway are having a positive impact.  Looking forward, the district must maintain its current rate of annual improvement over eight years in order to fully close the achievement gap with the rest of Connecticut—a feat that is even more challenging given the state's and city's fiscal outlook.  However, strong leadership is in place at the District and most of its schools and stakeholders of education are increasingly more engaged. 

While reform is complex, and meaningful sustained improvement takes time, we must not let up.  The challenge facing the District is to ensure that every school in Hartford becomes a high performing school.  

We at Achieve Hartford! believe that through ongoing, candid and constructive dialogue about the challenges Hartford faces, as well as a continued commitment to innovation, the City of Hartford can sustain the progress that's been made, and ultimately close the achievement gap.  The students and families in Hartford deserve no less, and the social and economic health of our city depends upon it.

Hartford Board of Education Members

Ada M. Miranda, Chair
amiranda@crec.org
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David M. MacDonald, First Vice Chair
dave.macdonald@sbcglobal.net
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Pamela M. Richmond, Second Vice Chair
1pammie@comcast.net
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Lori Hudson, Secretary
LHudson_HBOE@comcast.net
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Elizabeth Brad Noel, Board
Memberebradnoel@me.com
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Israel Flores, Board Member
iflores860@sbcglobal.net
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Luis Rodriguez-Dávila, Board Member
lroddavila@gmail.com
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Robert Cotto, Jr., Board Member
robertcottojr@gmail.com
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Sharon Patterson-Stallings, Board Member
saps_42@yahoo.com
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Reports Done on Hartford Public Schools

Weighted Student Formula Yearbook 2009

Scenes from the School Turnaround Movement

National Academy Foundation Case Study: Citywide School Reform in Action


 

Achieve Hartford

Achieve Hartford

Achieve Hartford