The First Day of School for grades 1 - 12 is September 2, 2010
Please note the new time for all elementary schools is 8:40 AM - 3:00 PM

Kindergarten Orientation will be Sept. 2  - The first day for AM, PM and Full Day Kindergarten will be Sept. 3

APS Transportation Bus Lists

collage Principal Newman of Attleboro High School Principal Joseph of Hill-Roberts Elementary School Principal Coffin Wamsutta Middle School Principal Porter of Studley Elementary School Principal Sarkarati of Coelho Middle School Principal Zinni of Willett Elementary School Principal Sabre of Thacher Elementary School Principal White of Hyman Fine Elementary School Principal Saltzman of Brennan Middle School Dr. Durkin, Superintendent of Schools

Our Vision Statement

Dr. Pia Durkin

Attleboro Public Schools ensures excellence for all students through powerful learning and constructive collaboration.

District Goals

Teaching and Learning

Organization and Management

Public Engagement and External Relationships


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Attleboro school superintendent looks ahead to a new year

Summer days and time with family and friends lift our mood and recharge us. In tough economic times, any respite helps us to be resilient for what lies ahead. Those of us who live and work with young people want them to problem-solve, to be responsible, and to be confident in dealing with what comes their way. Part of that responsibility involves risk, not physical risk, but risk equally as challenging in trusting that, even when they make a mistake, they "can do the right thing" and move on.Summer days and time with family and friends lift our mood and recharge us. In tough economic times, any respite helps us to be resilient for what lies ahead. Those of us who live and work with young people want them to problem-solve, to be responsible, and to be confident in dealing with what comes their way. Part of that responsibility involves risk, not physical risk, but risk equally as challenging in trusting that, even when they make a mistake, they "can do the right thing" and move on.

We connect with stories about people who try "to make things right." Last spring, the Detroit Tigers' pitcher, Armando Galarraga, should have been celebrating a perfect game, but, instead, faced an umpire who ruled a runner safe. On the replay, the player should have been called out. Jim Joyce, the umpire, admitted he made a mistake, took responsibility, and apologized to Mr. Galarraga, who, in turn, accepted it, with a smile. We all can share similar examples of people who risked putting themselves on the line to lend dignity to others and their profession. Here in Attleboro, there are stories of people taking risks every day - being honest about what works and what needs to be improved.

The educational profession has historically been a lonely one. When many of us began as teachers, we were given our class list and schedule. You closed your door and hopefully had a good year. Since then, countless research studies have shown that not only does collaboration with others retain teachers, it leads to strong student outcomes. But, effective collaboration involves risk. In Attleboro, "constructive collaboration" is our vision, and carries all of us on the Journey Toward Excellence.

Five years ago, it was teachers who brought forward the need for a consistent core literacy and math program and then underwent rigorous training that changed how they taught in their classrooms. Today, fourth-graders are headed to middle schools with a stronger foundation. For several years, our writing scores were mediocre and flat. Again, teachers came together with papers from their classrooms to agree on what "good writing" looked like. We learned that our expectations could be higher, and that "good writing" varied not only between schools, but between classrooms. Teachers defined strategies, practiced together, and shared what worked best. We are now seeing our kids soar in how they put their thoughts on paper. We have long been dissatisfied with the low number of high school students taking Advanced Placement classes. With the help of funding from the Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative, teachers were trained in the rigorous content of AP courses. This past year, the number of students taking AP classes tripled, and we just learned that 60 percent of those 250 kids scored a 3 or more, qualifying their work for potential college credit.

These risks are not small. When we, as adults, push ourselves to try new things, aspire to higher goals, and exert more effort, then our children will do the same. And we carry the risk of not succeeding. What if the umpire's apology was rejected? What if teachers never shared their students' work, and covered up their students' lackluster performance? What if AHS accepted that it was "OK" to have so few kids taking AP classes? The "same-old/same-old" would be our mantra.

Fortunately, we don't have to answer those questions. In May, the district's Family/Community Survey informed us that 65 percent of the respondents agreed that Attleboro Public Schools are providing a quality education that will prepare their child for the future. Yes, we have come far, but there is still far to go. This coming year, we will continue to take risks and muster resilience to stay the course, despite these difficult times. Recently, I attended a conference with 50

 other school districts and experienced one of those "what-you-wish-for" moments as a superintendent. An administrator from another district came over to Attleboro's table, telling us he had followed our progress. He went on to ask us about our work and arrange for a visit. This does not come as a surprise to me. With a lot of hard work from a lot of good people and a community that supports and expects only excellence from its schools, Attleboro Public Schools is coming into its own, well on its way to becoming the shining star it should be. Welcome back! We will see you in the schools!

PIA DURKIN, Ph.D., is superintendent of Attleboro Public Schools.


Getting ready for school Attleboro School Superintendent Pia Durkin is pictured with Chloe Newman, who will start the first grade at the Thacher School, when Attleboro students return to the classroom on Thursday. (Submitted photo)

As appeared in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle, Aug. 30, 2010


 

Attleboro Schools Annual Report 2009-2010


In the News

Survey: City parents pleased with children's education

BY RICK FOSTER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Wednesday, May 26, 2010


ATTLEBORO - A majority of parents whose children attend city schools say they believe they are receiving a quality education and are satisfied with the direction the schools are heading.

More than 65 percent of the 926 families who responded said they either agree or strongly agree that the schools are providing quality education and that they approve of the way schools are moving toward the future.


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See Survey Results

 


 

MASS MATH & SCIENCE INITIATIVE DOUBLES AP ENROLLMENT AT ATTLEBORO HIGH SCHOOL; PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS PATHWAYS TO COLLEGE SUCCESS

Attleboro, MA –Attleboro High School students and teachers are poised to match the success of other Massachusetts high schools in increasing Advanced Placement* enrollment and achievement, thanks to a five-year, $671,461 private grant from Mass Insight’s Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative (MMSI).  In classes that began this month, MMSI’s AP Training and Award Program nearly doubled Attleboro High’s AP math, science and English enrollment from 126 students last year to 245 today.



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Advanced Placement Awards on the rise for AHS students

BY RICK FOSTER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Friday, September 18, 2009


ATTLEBORO - City high school students aren't just succeeding in college-level advanced placement courses; they're winning awards at an increasing rate according to school officials.

A total of 23 students received Advanced Placement Awards from the College Board, up 53 percent over last year's 15.

The College Board's Advanced Placement Program affords students the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses. Depending on their performance on exams, students can earn college credit, advanced placement, or both. About 18 percent of the 1.6 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award.



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