Sep. 3, 2014:  Editor's note: We are grateful to Bronxville Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone for responding to MyhometownBronxville.com's request for a fall 2014 update on The Bronxville School and his expectations for the coming year. Below is the article he submitted to us.

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year!

Our mission at the Bronxville School is to bring out the best in each and every student. Our vision of the Bronxville graduate embraces many different forms of excellence. To that end we offer a challenging course of study, a comprehensive network of support, and a climate of continuous improvement and innovation.

Enrollment: Based on current tallies, K-12 regular education enrollment has risen by 50 students -- about 3%. This figure will fluctuate with late registrations and withdrawals. October 1 is the date for official enrollment counts. Right now the Elementary School stands at 776 students, the Middle School at 425, and the High School at 485. Average class sizes are in the low twenties across the board, though there is some variation as a result of enrollment bulges in certain grades and scheduling constraints. Last spring the Board of Education added staff as a way to maintain favorable class sizes at the Elementary School.

Staffing: At the new teacher orientation we welcomed a large group of new teachers, leave replacements, interns and student teachers to the faculty. This is the second year of our partnership with Long Island University in which master's degree candidates work side by side with Bronxville teachers as a way to enrich students' experience and provide additional support for teachers. The overall staffing profile also includes four leave of absence replacements, five Elementary educators, four Middle School teachers, and two High School positions. We have also made several shifts in assignment, most notably with the appointment of Dr. Rachel Kelly as Assistant Superintendent. Tricia Murray, Elementary School Principal, and Dr. Mara Koetke, Director of Curriculum and Improvement, joined the leadership team in July and have made significant contributions to district improvement plans.

Student Learning Results: Bronxville students continue to excel on many measures of achievement, including the international PISA for Schools, Advanced Placement exams, and college admission patterns. This year 233 high school students took 517 Advanced Placement exams; 89% qualified for college credit. Fifty percent of the Class of 2014 has enrolled in the most competitive colleges in the country; 90% are going to colleges in the top three categories of competitiveness, as categorized by Barron's guide. These achievement patterns are highly consistent with past results.

Common Core: The Common Core Learning Standards continue to occupy center stage in New York and across the nation. In the effort to ensure that all students are "college and career ready," New York adopted more competitive language arts and mathematics standards, and in 2013 test scores dropped sharply across the state. This year, Bronxville's results show incremental improvement, exceeding state and county averages by a wide margin. Better performance will require ongoing curriculum adjustment and professional development, and the District is dedicating significant resources to that effort. In particular we have added more time and depth to the Middle School mathematics program.

Even as standardized testing dominates the national conversation about educational excellence, the district continues to value other important attributes, such as creativity, persistence, curiosity, civic engagement, and empathy. Our work builds on Bronxville's long tradition of nurturing children's development in a comprehensive and progressive manner.

Technology: Last spring we introduced new learning applications that enable students to collaborate and create more easily, using the tools that they will need in college and beyond. Over forty teachers volunteered to participate in the initial training for Google Apps. Generous Foundation grants have helped us purchase Chromebook and laptop carts. As a result, students will have easier classroom access to technology applications. We have also upgraded our website and student information system. We expect these changes will help students, parents, and teachers communicate easily and effectively. Along the way parental privacy and data protection remain important considerations. New York has moved rapidly to regulate the disclosure of student information to third party vendors; Bronxville is working with regional and state agencies to ensure that our students are fully protected.

Facilities: Extensive renovations in our auditorium and the construction of a new side lobby will add significant value and opportunity to our performing arts programs. This facility should be available early in 2015. Our redesigned, refurbished Middle School science labs will support the active inquiry that is the hallmark of high quality instruction. We expect this important project to be substantially completed by the opening of school. Both projects are currently on schedule.

It promises to be a busy, exciting, and productive year!

Best Regards

David F. Quattrone
Superintendent of Schools

This Week in Bronxville:  Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone: What to Expect this Coming Year