Mansfield Elementary School has been named as a School of Distinction by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). The CSDE released the results from the 2024–25 Next Generation Accountability System, which offers a comprehensive view of school and district performance across 12 indicators.
Mansfield Elementary was named a school of distinction for a second year in a row with recognition for their High Performance and High Growth English Language Arts (ELA) among all students. MES also achieved ELA High Growth among those children identified as High Needs Students.
According to a press release from the CSDE, “Across the state, many schools demonstrated high performance, notable academic growth, or substantial improvement. Each year, these schools are recognized as schools of distinction for excelling academically, closing achievement gaps, and creating supportive environments where every student can thrive. In 2024–25, 140 schools earned this recognition, including 34 in Alliance Districts, demonstrating that progress is taking root in communities statewide.” Implemented in 2014–15, the system looks beyond test scores and graduation rates to reflect the many ways schools support student learning and well-being.
“Congratulations to the students, staff, and building leadership for achieving this level of performance two years in a row. This recognition is especially meaningful as Mansfield Elementary completes only its second year as a new school community,” says Superintendent Candace Morell. “This represents great teamwork. I am certain that our continued focus and attention to high quality instruction paired with strong core resources will continue to support student growth and success.
“In a year-to-year comparison, both Mansfield Elementary School and Mansfield Middle School show progress,” adds Superintendent Morell. “Our district’s strategic focus on Knowing Students, Supporting the Whole Child and Ensuring Deep Learning is clearly making an impact on all our students based on the growth progress we are seeing. We want every student to experience growth and a love for learning.”
Mansfield Middle School was also named recently by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top middle schools in Connecticut. Superintendent Morell announced, “We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievement of Mansfield Middle School, which has been ranked 28th among all middle schools in the state of Connecticut according to the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our students, faculty, staff, and community.”
She continues, “Their hard work, commitment to learning, and collaborative spirit have set Mansfield Middle apart and showcased what is possible when we work together with purpose and pride. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this success—the students who strive for excellence each day, the teachers who inspire and guide them, the support staff who keep everything running smoothly, and the families and community members who support and encourage our school's mission.”
According to U.S. News & World Report the rankings use the same methodology for all included grade levels. They evaluated 284 middle schools in Connecticut. For each state, schools were assessed on their share of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. Half of the formula assessed the scores themselves and the other half incorporated the test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. In other words, the top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students. https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/connecticut