Introduction to the School Quality Review document
Please note when reviewing this document that the actual ratings e.g. “This school meets minimum requirements” is considered to be proficient and is the highest rating allowable to a school in a district identified “in need of improvement” particular to Criterion 1 and 2. It is strongly suggested that you rely on the narrative portions of this document to get a clear picture of our school’s rating and the work we are doing. You can download a copy of the Cranbury School Quality Review Report from the link on the left.
ABOUT OUR SCHOOL
Cranbury Elementary School was opened in 1960. Our average yearly enrollment is 500 students in grades pre-school through five. Our school is located in the northern portion of Norwalk, bordered by the suburban communities of Westport and Wilton. Atypical of most urban schools, our building adjoins a part, making the campus an appealing learning environment. We are proud of the racial and socioeconomic diversity in our student population. Our school families and staff see this as a unique opportunity for children to learn from and about each other in preparation for the “real” world. Our social-emotional, instructional, and school-community programs strive to meet the individual needs of our students to ensure their future success.Character Education is a critical element of the Cranbury School culture. We follow the national “Character Counts” model teaching students the six pillars of good character; RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, FAIRNESS, CARING, TRUSTWORTHINESS, AND CITIZENSHIP. These monthly themes are reinforced through classroom lessons, weekly loud speaker announcements, and monthly “Lessons for Life” awards which are presented at school-wide meetings to students in grades 1-5 who have emulated positive character traits.
Our academic program places emphasis on the regular monitoring of student progress and adjusting instruction to address the individual needs of each child, providing both opportunities for remediation and extension. In order to accurately monitor student progress we have constructed and administered baseline assessments and periodic benchmarks which were developed by our staff. We also use state mandated measures, such as, the DRA (Direct Reading Assessment) in grades K-3 and the Connecticut Mastery Test in grades 3-5 to provide us with information about our students in terms of the broader state and national expectations for student achievement. Over the past five years the majority of our students have met these expectations. For more detailed information about curriculum, and links to the state website for our current Strategic School Profile which provides demographic and CMT comparative information please consult the NPS website.
Cranbury has been one of the two schools participating in the District Technology Pilot beginning in the 03 – 04 school year. This has afforded our staff and students the benefit of cutting edge hardware, software, and instructional models, which not only enhance the curriculum but also will prepare our students for advanced learning and success in the work place. A more detailed description can be found in the “Programs” section of our website.
Key to the success of Cranbury School is the high level of parent involvement that we are fortunate to have. We enjoy a very active P.T.O. with a significant level of regular volunteerism in all areas of our school and fund raising efforts that afford our students and staff many opportunities.
If you are already a part of Cranbury School or you are thinking of joining our school community, be sure to visit our P.T.O. website from our home page link.
