Connecticut Students See Gains in Test Scores and Attendance

Press Releases

08/28/2025

Connecticut Students See Gains in Test Scores and Attendance

Results mark statewide improvements in learning and attendance, signaling stronger momentum toward surpassing pre-pandemic performance levels.

(Hartford, CT) - Academic performance in Connecticut improved across all student groups in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science in 2025, while chronic absenteeism continued to decline, according to new statewide data released today by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). The results from spring’s assessments mark the first time in the decade since the Smarter Balanced tests were introduced that all student groups have shown improvement at once. Chronic absenteeism also fell for the third straight year, dropping from a high of 23.7 percent in 2021-22 to 17.2 percent in 2024–25, meaning that nearly 34,000 more students were present for school on a regular basis over this same period.

Statewide Test Results Move Closer to Pre-Pandemic Levels

The Connecticut Performance Index is the best measure of overall average achievement in a subject area. The statewide improvements in 2024-25 are highlighted in the tables below. These promising improvements continue to bring Connecticut closer to surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Connecticut Performance Index (CPI) Trend in English Language Arts and Mathematics for All Grades and Student Groups
(State Target for the Performance Index is 75.
Improvements are in green)

Connecticut Performance Index (CPI) Trend in Science for All Grades and Student Groups
(State Target for the Performance Index is 75.
Improvements are in green)

The Smarter Balanced assessments in Grades 4 through 8 provide an important measure of whether students are making adequate academic progress within a school year. From 2023–24 to 2024–25, growth in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics was stronger than in the previous period. In ELA, students achieved 60.6 percent of their growth targets on average in 2024–25, up from 58.7 percent in 2023–24.

In mathematics, students achieved 62.3 percent of their growth targets on average in 2024–25, compared to 61.4 percent the year before. At the state level, students are reaching approximately 60 percent of their growth targets on average, with 60 schools where students met at least 80 percent of their ELA growth targets and 104 schools where students met that benchmark in mathematics.

The goal is for students in all schools to move closer to 100 percent of their annual growth targets, which will put them on track for higher levels of academic performance in the future.

Chronic Absenteeism Continues to Improve

Chronic absenteeism improved for nearly every student group in 2024–25. The largest gains were in kindergarten, where rates dropped from 18.5 percent to 16.3 percent. For the second year in a row, students in Grades 3 and 4 had the lowest absenteeism rates at 12.5 percent and 12.4 percent. Absenteeism in high school, however, remains higher than in other grades.

The Connecticut State Department of Education’s evidence-based home visitation program – the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP) – continues to make a strong impact, with student attendance improving by double digits six months after a visit.

Statewide Initiatives Supporting Student Learning

The CSDE works with districts, schools, and community partners to provide resources, share effective strategies, and help accelerate student learning. Several initiatives to boost engagement and academic recovery are already underway or completed. The examples below are organized by CSDE’s 2024–25 Focus Areas.

Elevate curriculum frameworks and curricula 

• K-8 model curricula provides free access to high-quality curricula and instructional resources along with aligned professional development opportunities.
• Science of Reading (SOR) Masterclass – a statewide professional learning opportunity to develop local capacity for evidence-based reading.
• Investments of over $20 million in evidence-based K-3 core, comprehensive reading curriculum models/programs, universal screening reading assessments, and associated professional learning.
• Around 300 short interim block assessments in ELA, mathematics, and science that are provided at no cost to districts to monitor student learning throughout the year and support instruction.
• New state funding of $5 million to implement a high dosage tutoring (HDT) grant to build on the successes from nearly $11.5 million grant program for HDT in mathematics which showed that students receiving tutoring achieved an average increase of 10 scale score points on Smarter Balanced from one grade to the next.

Recruit and retain a diverse workforce 

• Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program for students who graduated from a public high school and enrolled in an approved educator preparation program in Connecticut.
• A $3 million initiative in partnership with the Department of Labor to create a new teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program and expand existing high school “grow-your-own” programs.

Ensure students are physically present and engaged, support a safe and healthy learning environment 

• Expansion of the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP) – a supportive home visitation model that has been proven to increase student attendance. A new state budget line item of $7 million now supports this initiative.  
• Talk Tuesdays – biweekly virtual gatherings that bring together educators, school staff, community partners, and leaders from across the state to explore practical, research-based strategies for improving student attendance and engagement. 
• More than $4.5 million in grants to 48 districts to support the delivery of mental health services for students during the summer months.
• More than $13 million in grants to provide summer enrichment opportunities to children during the summers of 2023 and 2024.
• Actionable data through EdSight Secure that provides authorized district staff with longitudinal information and early warning metrics so our most vulnerable students receive the supports they need without any delay.
• The “No Matter What” campaign to highlight resources available for students experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• The “School is Better with You” campaign, which generated 59 million online impressions and delivered toolkits and attendance awareness materials to more than 110 districts. 

Modernize and expand postsecondary pathways 

• $3.8 million awarded to 89 school districts and nearly $5 million to public and private institutions of higher education through the Dual Credit Expansion Grant to increase the percentage of students earning college credit in high school.
• New funding of $6 million to offset the cost of dual credit courses and programs for Connecticut students.
• A FAFSA Challenge initiative to encourage FAFSA completion that provides schools with mini-grants, training sessions, and supports.
• A new registry of industry recognized credentials, established in collaboration with education, workforce, and business partners, to help build programs that guide students toward career pathways that align with real-world job opportunities. 

Improve outcomes for all students, with a focus on students with disabilities 

• The Dyslexia Awareness campaign launched with a focus on continued training and professional development.
• Connecticut Special Education Data System (CT-SEDS) statewide rollout to improve the quality of individualized education programs (IEPs) aligned with grade level standards.
• $5.9 million State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities with a specific focus on mathematics.
• Partnership with the University of Connecticut to improve ELA Performance Index Results for Students with Disabilities in grade 3.
• Additional funding for special education through added reimbursement for excess costs, a new expansion grant, and a new grant to support in-district/regional programs.

Links to all assessment related EdSight reports are listed below. 

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CONTACT INFORMATION
Matthew Cerrone
matthew.cerrone@ct.gov

Twitter: CT State Department of Education Twitter

Facebook: CT State Department of Education Facebook