DANBURY, Connecticut — The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has named the Elementary Education program at Western Connecticut State University one of the top 83 programs (out of 1,100 reviewed) in the nation in 2025 for Teacher Prep Review: Solving for Math Success. WestConn received an A+ ranking for the way in which it prepares aspiring teachers to successfully teach mathematics to elementary school students.
According to Ron Noble, Chief of Teacher Prep at NCTQ, “WCSU’s undergraduate program is among the best in the nation for devoting sufficient time to math pedagogy and the four math content areas.”
The A+ ranking was achieved because the university met 100% of the target instructional hours under each of the topics analyzed: Numbers and Operations, Algebraic Thinking, Geometry and Measurement, Data Analysis and Probability, and Mathematics Pedagogy.
The NCTQ report indicated that “13% of Connecticut programs earn an A or A+ by dedicating adequate instructional time to both math content and pedagogy.” Among the eight undergraduate programs and seven graduate programs in Connecticut that were compared for 2025, only WestConn and Sacred Heart received an A+ score. Other programs received grades that ranged from B to F.
“We’re proud that Western Connecticut State University’s Elementary Education Interdisciplinary Program has earned an A+ rating in the 2025 Teacher Prep Review: Solving for Math Success by the National Council on Teacher Quality,” said Dr. Katherine Roe, chair of the university’s Education Department. “This national recognition reflects the strength of our Elementary Education preparation program — being named as one of the best education programs in the nation for preparing Elementary Education candidates to teach Math — and one of only two in Connecticut to receive this recognition.”
Roe continued, “Math is foundational — not just for student success in school, but in life. Research shows that math scores predict future earnings even more than reading scores. And with national data showing that roughly 1 in 4 fourth graders are struggling with basic math skills, the need for well-prepared educators has never been greater. At WCSU, we’ve worked diligently to create courses that strengthen both content knowledge and teaching strategies, so it’s exciting to see those efforts making a real difference. But we don’t do this work alone. The WCSU Education Department, in consultation with our community partners at Danbury Public Schools, and an interdisciplinary team of faculty, continually re-evaluate and monitor the program to ensure we are preparing educators who are ready to meet the needs of 21st-century learners. This A+ reflects more than a grade — it reflects our values, our commitment to excellence, and our belief in the power of education to shape futures.”
The A+ ranking in 2025 is not the first that WestConn has received from the NCTQ. It received a similar score in 2022, the last time the report was released.
WCSU teacher preparation programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
The NCTQ is a think tank founded in 2000 and based in Washington, D.C. that researches, evaluates, and provides information and guidance on the topics of teacher preparation, teacher pay, educator equity, and diversity.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.