I’m happy to see the Providence Journal pick up the story of Barrington eliminating ELA honors classes for 9th and 10th grade students. Perhaps the additional scrutiny will encourage more transparency than what has been provided so far.

I was frustrated, however, by the continued misuse of data by Asst. Superintendent Paula Dillon. The Journal quotes Dr. Dillon as saying, “88% of students receiving free or reduced price lunch are proficient in reading and writing, yet only .7% take honors level ELA courses.” This sounds concerning until you look at the actual numbers.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics lists Barrington High School as having a combined 567 students enrolled in 9th and 10th grades in 2020-21. In the Restructuring the High School Program of Studies presentation, a slide titled “Grade 9 and 10 SocioEconomic Breakdown”, shows that 2.1% of these students are eligible for free or reduced lunches. That’s approximately 12 students who qualify for free and reduced lunch; 11 of whom are proficient in reading and writing and 2 that elected to take an honors ELA course. Two of eleven students is 18%, not .7%. If four more students had taken an honors course, there would be no inequity.

The fact is that the administration, with no opposition from the school committee, has made a decision negatively affecting approximately 289 students - the 51% of 9th and 10th graders who typically elect ELA honors- because it perceived barriers for 4 students. What those barriers might be, and any additional and more compelling data has not been presented.

Kara Kelley
Barrington