WEST SPRINGFIELD — West Springfield High School Principal Patrick Danby presented the school’s accountability data to the School Committee during its Dec. 10 meeting.
In general, the data illustrates student performance in areas like AP classes or English language arts and math achievement. It also shows how teachers and students are responding to how the implementation of Yondr pouches has affected learning on a daily basis.
According to Danby, the high school accountability score was in the 30th percentile; the highest the school has had since percentiles started being used as a measurement.
“That is phenomenal,” Danby said. “Hats off to my staff; the hard work from the students. Very, very good work from all.”
ELA, science and math performance
Danby told the School Committee that West Springfield High School’s Grade 10 ELA and math performance is very similar to the state’s. According to the data 40% of Grade 10 ELA students at the high school are meeting expectations compared to 43% at the state level.
Meanwhile, 35% of Grade 10 math students at the high school are meeting expectations compared to 36% in the entire state.
The percentage of students not meeting expectations in those areas at the high school mirrors that of the state.
“We’re short just a little bit in terms of partially meeting or not meeting expectations [in ELA], but it’s very close to what the state is,” Danby said. “[It’s] very similar in math as well.”
In science, 43% of Grade 10 West Side students are meeting expectations compared to 37% in the commonwealth.
“As I say, year after year, they continue to crush it in the science department,” Danby said. “We’re above the state through and through, year after year.”
Danby added that the school received a student growth percentile of 44 in ELA and 51 in math, which is considered moderate growth and average high respectively.
He attributed new curriculum with high-quality instructional materials in both math and ELA as reasons for growth in those areas.
“Both of these departments are working really hard to implement their new curriculum, and we’re seeing that it’s paying off, specifically in math,” Danby said.
AP data
In his presentation to the School Committee, Danby also noted that 75% of Advanced Placement students received a score of a 3 or higher on the AP test in 2024; the highest total since 2020, which was when the test was shorter and students had to take it remotely because of COVID-19.
“We had 280 students taking AP courses…and 210 students getting a three or more; which is more in all three categories, I believe, than we’ve ever had,” Danby said. “So, this is also to be celebrated.”
Danby added that the high school received the Access Award in the AP realm, which means the school is achieving equity in AP based on their demographics. This is the third year in a row they achieved this status.
“The enrollment in the school and the breakdown by demographic almost mirrors the breakdown of AP student demographics, and that’s why we’ve won this three years in a row,” Danby said.
Yondr pouches
Danby also gave updates on teacher and student response to Yondr pouches at the high school. The pouches house students’ electronics during the school day to help prevent distractions.
According to a survey provided by Danby, 95% of the 67 teachers who responded said the Yondr pouches have had a positive impact on the school so far. One teacher said it has had a negative impact, but Danby said that is because the course that teacher offers requires cell phones.
He added that teachers have told them there has been a higher level of engagement from students because of the pouches.
“It’s overwhelming that it’s had a positive environment from the teacher’s perspective,” Danby said.
“I can tell you that this year feels better. There has been less drama between students because they’re not chatting with each other all day.”
Danby said he also administered an anonymous survey to students, which illustrated that most were not fans of the Yondr pouches.
However, Danby said that most interactions he has had with students around these pouches have been positive, with one student telling him that she has been more engaged with her family and friends because of the rule.
“I’ve had a lot of interesting conversations in small groups, and it’s all been positive,” Danby said.
