BETHLEHEM — Bethlehem Elementary School has been named a Connecticut School of Distinction for the second consecutive year by the Connecticut State Department of Education, recognizing its overall student performance and high academic growth for the 2024-2025 school year. Bethlehem Elementary School is one of 160 schools to earn this distinction. The designation is based on five separate categories in which BES ranked in the top five percent of all schools in the state.
The areas are High Performance and High Growth (for All Students) in ELA & Math, High Growth (for High-Need Students) in Math, and High Performance Overall.
“This designation for the second consecutive year is truly an honor, and I am extremely proud of everyone,” said Principal Wendy Yatsenick. “Here in Region 14 and at Bethlehem Elementary School, we are offering top-quality education that has led us to be in the top five percent of all schools in the state of Connecticut.”
Principal Yatsenick cited an “amazing upward trajectory” at BES in which students have surpassed the school’s own goals, including an eight percent increase in math scores, a five percent increase in ELA scores, and a drop in student absenteeism from 13 percent to five percent.
“As Superintendent of Region 14, I am exceptionally proud of the Bethlehem Elementary School students and staff and the leadership of Principal Yatsenick in being recognized as a School of Distinction for the second consecutive year,” said Superintendent Brian Murphy. “This tremendous honor is due to the hard work of all students and staff. The BES school community has come together and demonstrated exemplary student outcomes, and this designation is a testament to the staff’s commitment to our new reading and math programs.”
The CSDE released results from the 2024-2025 Next Generation Accountability System in October. The Next Generation Accountability Index, primarily based on the state’s Smarter Balanced Assessments administered to students each spring, measures individual school and district growth by gauging how well a school is preparing its students for success. According to the CSDE, the Next Generation Accountability System comprises 12 indicators and extends beyond test scores and graduation rates to provide a more comprehensive, multifaceted perspective on district and school performance, incorporating student growth over time.