The Old Rochester Regional School District, composed of the junior high and high schools, stands as a Level 2 school with its state MCAS scores. But school leaders are working to fill in the gaps to bring the district up to a Level 1.

Technically, the high school has Level 1 status while the junior high is at Level 2, giving the district an overall Level 2.

ORR Junior High Principal Kevin Brogioli said only 15 percent of junior highs in the state are in the top category; however, improving scores is achievable.

In Math, English language arts, and science and technology, the school is above the state average even though Brogioli said some numbers have been static.

For example, the percentage of students in the advanced category for English has been at 16 percent for three of the past four years. In “needs improvement” the number has hovered around 10 percent for several years. The eighth grade did see more students move from warning and needs improvement to proficient in English and Math.

The school has some challenges to improving student growth, said Brogioli.

“New entrants present a challenge given our average class size and teacher caseload,” said Brogioli. “Forty-four out of eighty-four sections have classes of 25 or more students in them.”

Additionally, the science curriculum in place has some gaps with MCAS requirements. Improving writing across the board is also a high priority, he said.

At the high school, writing has also been a top focus this year.

“We have established writing as our goal in every academic department,” said High School Principal Mike Devoll.

The high school’s biology scores saw a slight decrease, he said, while English and math were fairly consistent.

A highlight of the MCAS results was growth in the math scores for high needs students, which improved six percent.

The 10^th graders also made school history with all students passing the English and math tests.

Devoll attributed the high math scores, in part, to the work being done at the junior high.

Going forward he said, “What we’re looking to do is to increase students’ growth.”