First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced today that Governor Dannel P. Malloy recently honored Fairfield as one of the suburban district towns that had a continued increase in high school graduation rates. The Governor visited one of Fairfield’s high schools, Fairfield Warde, on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 to highlight the increase in graduation rates and the narrowing of graduation gaps across the state.

First Selectman Tetreau joined Governor Malloy, Interim Commissioner of Education Dianna R. Wentzell, Fairfield Public School’s Superintendent Dr. David Title, Fairfield Warde High School Principal Jim Coyne, State Senator Tony Hwang, and State Representative Brenda Kupchick, along with administrators, staff and students.

First Selectman Tetreau said, “I want to thank our Governor for his strong commitment to education and to all those who work in Fairfield’s school system for their diligent efforts to help get our students college-ready and provide skills for them to be productive citizens. I am so proud of both of our Town’s high schools and am honored that the Governor chose to highlight Fairfield as a community with high performing suburban high schools.”

In Fairfield, graduation rates trended upward in 2014 to 93.8%, an increase from 92.7% in 2013. Since 2009, four-year high school graduation rates continue to rise with 87% of students graduating state-wide.

According to the Governor’s office, “The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) introduced the four-year cohort graduation rate with the graduating class of 2009. This approach was created when Connecticut and 49 other states signed an agreement with the National Governors Association to develop a uniform system for tracking students. The four-year cohort graduation rate is calculated by tracking an individual cohort, or group of students, from their initial entrance into Grade 9 through to graduation. The four-year cohort graduation rate represents the percentage of students who earn a standard high school diploma within four years. The calculation uses individual student-level data from the state's Public School Information System (PSIS) that school districts submitted and superintendents certified.”

Dr. David Title said, “I am pleased that the hard work of our high school teachers, guidance counselors and school leaders has led to an increase in our four-year graduation rate. In partnership with parents and students, our staff is dedicated to ensuring that every student in Fairfield meets our high standards for graduation.”

The photo shows First Selectman Mike Tetreau speaking at the podium and Governor Dannel P. Malloy at Fairfield Warde High School (FWHS). FWHS Student, Nicholas Bloch, took the photo.