56.0°,
A Few Clouds Seaford High named Reward School
Harbor placed on watch list, but district considers appeal
For the third straight year, Seaford High School has been named a Reward School by the New York State Department of Education. The announcement was made by Superintendent Brian Conboy at the Board of Education meeting on Sept. 4.
A total of 354 schools in the state were named Reward Schools, based on academic performance in the 2012-13 school year. Seaford High School was rated a high performing school because of overall student achievement.
All students in the class of 2013 graduated, including 97 percent earning a Regents Diploma.
Conversely, the Seaford Harbor School was added to the state’s watch list, meaning it must implement a Local Assistance Plan. Conboy said that this was because of the performance of one subgroup at the school. The state deemed that the progress of students with disabilities on English language arts exams fell short.
He said that New York State is offering an appeals process for schools that ended up on the list which were affected by Superstorm Sandy. Seaford Harbor’s designation is based on performance in the 2012-13 school year, and Sandy hit in October 2012, displacing many families in the southern end of the district.
Conboy said an appeal is likely, but the district is prepared to implement a Local Assistance Plan if necessary. It would be an internal plan to improve test scores among students in that subgroup.
At last week’s board meeting, Conboy also reviewed performance in the 2013-14 school year. He reviewed passing rates on high school Regents exams, and said while some results were impressive, others were not.
He noted that 88 percent of high school students passed the Common Core algebra Regents, but none achieved mastery, which means a score of 85 or higher. “We have some additional work to do, for sure,” Conboy said, adding that the district must help prepare students for more rigorous exams.
High school students did do well on Advanced Placement exams, he noted. A record 421 college-level tests were taken in Seaford last year by 226 students.
