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There’s always room for improvement. Dansville Central School District is actively engaged in bettering their student’s New York State Assessment scores in third- through eighth-grade 8 English language arts and mathematics.
In comparison to the 21 other school districts in the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership region, most of Dansville’s scores placed average or below. Its third grade ELA scores placed last, and third grade math scores placed second to last. However, its seventh grade math scores came in near the top, at fifth place.
For ELA, 44 percentage of students in third through eighth grades met or exceeded efficiency standards in English language arts. In math, 63 percent of students in the same grade levels scored efficiency level or above.
Dansville School Superintendent Paul Alioto cited a lack of consistent leadership in the district, specifically the position of superintendent, as the cause for the school’s relatively low assessment scores. The district has also lacked structured curriculum leadership in all grade levels, “and we failed to provide the time and support that teachers need to align curriculum, identify gaps in curriculum and instruction, and implement improvement plans Pre-k through 12,” Alioto said.
This is exemplified in Dansville’s science scores, which came in much higher. Ninety percent of students in fourth grade are meeting or exceeding expectations; and 83 percent in eighth grade are meeting or exceeding expectations.
“We’re better able to get our arms around the science assessment because ... it’s more dependent on what is taught in one grade level than four grade levels,” Alioto said.
“We have pockets of excellence in the school district, but to achieve excellence Pre-K through 12 requires thoughtful coordination, and we are structured to achieve thoughtful coordination right now.”
That structure includes a teacher leadership network that provides pre-kindergarten- through sixth-grade, and seventh- through 12th-grade curruculum review and alignment; plus additional curriculum leadership responsibilities to administrators to oversee the teacher leaders. Those administrators are Thomas Roote, former high school vice principal, who is now the curriculum director for seventh through 12th grades. Ellis B. Hyde Principal Jeremy Palotti is the pre-indergarten through sixth-grade curriculum director. In addition to overseeing teacher leaders, the directors of curriculum attend department meetings and provide guidance in the setting of goals and action plans.
“One of the most important keys to success is leadership and support from the superintendent and the Board of Education; and the Board of Education has determined that student performance on Math and ELA assessments is one of its highest priorities," Alioto said. "They spelled that out in their long-range goals that were adopted at the end of the summer."
Alioto said that he believes teachers were previously not aware of student performances compared to the other districts in the region. “Our people are highly motivated to reverse that trend. Awareness is the first step.”
There’s always room for improvement. Dansville Central School District is actively engaged in bettering their student’s New York State Assessment scores in third- through eighth-grade 8 English language arts and mathematics.
In comparison to the 21 other school districts in the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership region, most of Dansville’s scores placed average or below. Its third grade ELA scores placed last, and third grade math scores placed second to last. However, its seventh grade math scores came in near the top, at fifth place.
For ELA, 44 percentage of students in third through eighth grades met or exceeded efficiency standards in English language arts. In math, 63 percent of students in the same grade levels scored efficiency level or above.
Dansville School Superintendent Paul Alioto cited a lack of consistent leadership in the district, specifically the position of superintendent, as the cause for the school’s relatively low assessment scores. The district has also lacked structured curriculum leadership in all grade levels, “and we failed to provide the time and support that teachers need to align curriculum, identify gaps in curriculum and instruction, and implement improvement plans Pre-k through 12,” Alioto said.
This is exemplified in Dansville’s science scores, which came in much higher. Ninety percent of students in fourth grade are meeting or exceeding expectations; and 83 percent in eighth grade are meeting or exceeding expectations.
“We’re better able to get our arms around the science assessment because ... it’s more dependent on what is taught in one grade level than four grade levels,” Alioto said.
“We have pockets of excellence in the school district, but to achieve excellence Pre-K through 12 requires thoughtful coordination, and we are structured to achieve thoughtful coordination right now.”
That structure includes a teacher leadership network that provides pre-kindergarten- through sixth-grade, and seventh- through 12th-grade curruculum review and alignment; plus additional curriculum leadership responsibilities to administrators to oversee the teacher leaders. Those administrators are Thomas Roote, former high school vice principal, who is now the curriculum director for seventh through 12th grades. Ellis B. Hyde Principal Jeremy Palotti is the pre-indergarten through sixth-grade curriculum director. In addition to overseeing teacher leaders, the directors of curriculum attend department meetings and provide guidance in the setting of goals and action plans.
“One of the most important keys to success is leadership and support from the superintendent and the Board of Education; and the Board of Education has determined that student performance on Math and ELA assessments is one of its highest priorities," Alioto said. "They spelled that out in their long-range goals that were adopted at the end of the summer."
Alioto said that he believes teachers were previously not aware of student performances compared to the other districts in the region. “Our people are highly motivated to reverse that trend. Awareness is the first step.”
