By Guy Page

Twelve Vermont schools have been newly identified among the state’s lowest-performing and added to the Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) list, according to the latest accountability report released by the Vermont Agency of Education.

The designation, required under federal education law, identifies schools where overall student performance is significantly below expectations or declining. Schools on the list receive additional oversight, coaching and access to federal school-improvement funding.

According to the State Report Card released this week, the following schools entered CSI status based on 2024-2025 performance data:

• Brewster Pierce School, Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District
• Central Elementary School, Windham Northeast Supervisory Union
• Northeast Primary School, Rutland City Supervisory District
• Rutland Intermediate School, Rutland City Supervisory District
• Elm Hill School, Springfield Supervisory District
• Riverside Middle School, Springfield Supervisory District
• Union Street School, Springfield Supervisory District
• Samuel Morey Elementary School, Rivendell Interstate Supervisory District
• Shoreham Elementary School, Addison Central Supervisory District
• Summit Street School, Essex Westford Supervisory District (now closed)
• Tinmouth Elementary School, Mill River Unified Union Supervisory District
• Williston Schools, Champlain Valley School District

In addition, two schools already on the list — Molly Stark School in Bennington County and Northwest Primary School in Rutland — did not improve enough to exit and will remain under state monitoring for at least three more years.

Most previously identified schools improved enough to exit.

State officials reported that 14 schools previously designated as underperforming met minimum improvement standards and were removed from the CSI list, although most still have not reached full performance goals.

Statewide performance concerns

The report highlights ongoing academic challenges across Vermont. English language arts proficiency ranges from 46% to 61%, while math proficiency remains lower, between 33% and 48%. Graduation rates, though relatively strong, have declined from 89% in 2017 to 82% in 2025.

State officials said the identification process is designed to focus resources where they are most needed.

Identified schools will receive technical assistance, increased monitoring and federal school improvement funds aimed at strengthening instruction and boosting student outcomes.

Education officials also emphasized that removal from the list does not necessarily mean a school is meeting expectations, only that performance has stabilized enough to no longer qualify for the lowest tier of intervention.

The report is a canary-in-the-coal-mine reminder that education reform is needed, Gov. Scott said in a statement issued today. 

“Today’s report illustrates why education transformation is not optional, it’s essential,” Scott said. “Vermonters know property taxes and education costs continue to grow at unsustainable rates and are making Vermont even more unaffordable. But this report reaffirms why transformation is about more than bending the cost curve, it’s about closing the opportunity gap and delivering a more equitable education for our kids, and ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education regardless of their zip code. It’s about ensuring our teachers, who face an increasingly difficult job, are well resourced and given more of the tools they need. It’s about building a better governance system that ensures more of Vermonters’ precious tax dollars are directly helping kids and teachers in the classroom.

“None of this is easy. But taking the path of least resistance will leave both kids and taxpayers behind.  Following through on our bipartisan commitment last year is our best chance at delivering the education system our kids deserve, and taxpayers can afford,” Scott said.