Pittsfield NH School District

Nellie Mae Grant Flyer

2009-2010 School District Annual Report

As you know, the Pittsfield School District has established a bold three-year goal focusing on student achievement:

By October 2013, 85% or more of all Pittsfield School District students
will be proficient in reading and math as measured by the state’s annual
administration of the NECAP assessment measures.

This goal is being supported by our three-year School Improvement Grant, which is providing resources for a variety of strategies for strengthening the educational opportunities afforded to our students.

At this point in our school year, we are taking a look at our progress and are making adjustments to make the most of our School Improvement Grant opportunity.  This process includes a review of progress indicators that will be of interest to you.

First, our annual dropout rate for the 2009-2010 school year, as calculated by the New Hampshire Department of Education, was 1.1%.  This is down from our recent high of 6.1% in 2007-2008.  The New Hampshire average was 1.7% in 2008-2009, the latest year for which data is available.

While we did not specifically establish a goal to eliminate dropouts entirely, I believe that our unstated goal is 0% dropouts.  We are actually very close to achieving this goal.  Once we do, we will continue our efforts to sustain 0% dropouts every school year. (more…)

Budget Handout

Click here to view summary information of the 2011 – 2012 school district budget.

Click here to view the 2011 – 2012 school district budget.

Two winters ago, the School District held a series of community forums to articulate the community’s vision for the District and a vision for our PMHS graduates.  The participants provided their thoughts that resulted in a new mission and vision statement for our schools.

Our District’s mission includes a belief in high academic standards, personalized learning that is “adjusted to promote growth in each and every learner,” and the need for our graduates leave PMHS with “thoughtful plans for the next phase of their lives.”

Such a mission calls for a shift from a one-size-fits-all high school environment with which most of us are familiar, to a high school that attends to the individual learning needs, interests, and styles of each young person enrolled in the school.  Further, such a mission views high school graduation not as the end of a journey, but as an important milepost in a lifelong journey.

As you may have read in the Suncook Valley Sun, the Pittsfield School District has received a large planning grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation to fund one year of planning to develop student centered learning in our Pittsfield Middle High School.  This planning grant will allow the District to develop earnest plans to fulfill our new mission. (more…)

Due to inclement weather, all after school activities are cancelled for today, Tuesday, February 1, 2011.