By Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and Andrew Ba Tran

www.ctmirror.org

One-third of high school juniors are not reading and writing well enough to begin taking college courses or start a career, statewide SAT results released Tuesday show. While thousands of those students are close to being where they should be, one out of every six high school junior in Connecticut is significantly behind.

Math results are even more dire – nearly two-thirds are behind and one-quarter of all juniors are significantly behind.

Minorities and students from low-income families were far behind state averages.

Calling it “concerning” that so many students are testing below where they should be, Ajit Gopalakrishnan, the chief performance officer for the state education department, said there is still hope they can catch up.

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A group of 20 Chinese middle school students from Westport’s sister city of Yangzhou today visited Bedford Middle School. Principal Adam Rosen, joined by new Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer (r), greeted the students and took them on a school tour. Meanwhile, a group of 22 Staples High School students left on a 17-day trip to China with destinations that include Shanghai, Suzhou, Moganshan, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Yangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Beijing. CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Scenes from today’s Staples High School graduation ceremony. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Former Staples High School Principal John Dodig, who retired a year ago after 11 years as school head, was a face in the crowd today at the school’s 129th commencement ceremony. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Emily Weyrauch

Today’s Staples High School graduation was an especially poignant one for the 489 members of the class of 2016 as well as for Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon.

Schools Superientendent Elliott Landon addresses his final Staples High School graduation ceremony. He is retiring after 17 years. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

It was the last in Landon’s 17-year tenure as schools head. He took over in 1999 as many of the graduates were just beginning their academic career.

“Many of you entered kindergarten under my watch. I’ve seen you grow ... I have learned so much from all of you,” he told them.

Landon said that despite differences—in race, ethnicity, gender, beliefs, and more—“We are all in this together.”