More Advanced Diplomas, Lower Regent Scores In Hauppauge

A state report issued on Thursday shows while it remains ahead of the curve in students earning honors, grades on individual regents exams are slipping in Hauppauge. 

According to the New York State School Report Card for 2009-2010 year, has defied state funding cuts by maintaining its teaching staff and increasing the number of classes offered to students. However, while increasing the number of student earned Regents diplomas with an advanced designation, fewer achieved regents status as individual test grades were lower. 

Total student enrollment in Hauppauge has remained relatively steady with 4,076 students in 2009-2010, less than 4,095 in 2007-2008 but up from 4,062 in the 2008-2009 school year. Classes in grades 7-9 defied the trend, gradually increasing paving the way for a larger high school student body. 

Despite state aid cuts to finding,, Haupauge has maintained its staff of 323 teachers, the same as in 2007-2008 school year and managed to increase its course offerings from 1217 to 1240 across the district. 

Hauppauge remains a head of the curve when it comes to those graduating with Regents diplomas. In the class of 2010, 308 students graduated with only 10 dropping out, or less than 1 percent.  Out of the 308 graduates, 94 percent received a Regents diploma, slightly lower than the 96 percent in 2008, but significantly higher than state average of 83 percent.

Students have set their sights on higher achievements as 62 percent walked away with a Regents diploma with Advanced Designation, an increase of 6 percent in three years.  This is nearly double the state average of 38 percent. 

Meanwhile, high school students scores seem to be sliding downwards in individual Regents examinations, most notably in mathematics, history and foreign languages. Some of these subject examinations have been redesigned in recent years. 

In Mathematics B, Hauppauge students passing with a 55 or higher fell from 81 percent in the 2007-2008 school year to 62 percent in 2009-2010, of which only 6 percent of students taking the exam earning an 85 or higher.  Though not as drastic, passing geometry grades across the district fell from 99 percent in 2007-2008 down to 86 percent in 2009-2010. 

History Regents examination grades similarly in the district, as those earning an 85 or higher in Global History fell from 67 percent in 2008-2009 school year to 54 percent in 2009-2010, a different of 13 percent in one year. It didn't matter whether the students were learning foreign or U.S. History and government, where students passing with an 85 or higher fell from 84 percent in 2007-2008 to 73 percent in 2009-2010.   

Yet, its important to note the percent of students who could earn a passing at 55 or higher remained at 99 percent. 

Stay tuned to Hauppauge Patch throughout the next week as we continue to break down these numbers and what they mean. We've also attached the full reports so parents can see the data for themselves.