For most students, taking NECAPs has been a part of their education since elementary school. Now that passing NECAPs is a strict requirement for graduation, the pressure becomes even higher. Due to the strategic planning and meticulous preparation from teachers, paired with the hard work of students, North Providence High School improved in all three areas of testing, ranging from Reading, to Mathematics, to Writing. With fifty-three percent proficiency in math, eighty-five percent proficiency in writing, and ninety percent proficiency in reading, these scores are a reflection of how hard the entire school has worked to show an improvement, which the school and community take pride in. According to Mrs. Melissa Caffrey, department chair of the Social Studies Department, “The improvement in the NECAP scores was a wonderful accomplishment for the North Providence community. Collaboration and communication among the students, teachers, administrators, and parents truly promoted student achievement. Our educational programs at the high school truly reflect 21st century best practices to always improve teaching and learning, fostering rigor, relevance, and relationships. Based on the scores, there is evidence that literacy is promoted across all disciplines ensuring high exceptions for all our students in reaching proficiency.” In the state of Rhode Island, the average score in Reading is eighty-one percent, and the state average in Writing is sixty-six percent, making NPHS significantly above the state average.
Excelling in these areas, the work of the English and History departments is highly commendable. Mrs. Melissa Thomas, who recently became the chair of the English Department this year, recognizes the hard work of her colleagues, “Although I was not at the helm of the department last year, I was certainly a teacher vested in the improvement of our NECAP scores, as I participated, as did every other teacher in our department, in student remediation in the NP Writing Center and NECAP preparation within my own classes. I am thrilled about the improvement in this year’s scores, and I know that, under the nine year leadership of Mrs. Janine Napolitano, the steady improvement of our scores was the result of her sound leadership, a talented department, a school faculty who embraces literacy across the curriculum, and the support of our administration. I am hopeful that these trends will continue.” One can easily recognize the true hard work that was put forth from every teacher in the building to achieve these commendable scores.
By: Stephanie Ranucci