The Stillwater Area Public School Board meeting on November 12, 2024, spotlighted the urgent need to address widening achievement gaps among students. Board members expressed concern over the latest data, revealing that the district is not on track to meet its goal of limiting the achievement gap between white students and their non-white peers to no more than 55%. Currently, the gaps are not only persistent but have shown signs of increasing.

The discussion highlighted a troubling trend: while there has been a slight reduction in gaps for students identifying as two or more races, overall progress remains elusive. "We are seeing some increases," one board member noted, emphasizing the need for improvement. The board is committed to ensuring that all students are career and college-ready by graduation, utilizing assessments like the ACT, ASVAB, and ACCUPLACER to measure readiness. However, a decline in ACT scores was reported, despite an increase in student participation.

Graduation rates also fell short of expectations, with only 92% of students graduating within four years, down from previous years. The board discussed the importance of setting realistic goals and the need for a comprehensive achievement and civic readiness plan to better support all students.

As the board prepares to refine its strategies, there is a clear recognition of the need to shift from isolated efforts to a more systematic approach that benefits the entire student body. "We have a lot of opportunity," one member stated, underscoring the potential for meaningful change in the coming year. The board aims to revisit and possibly revise its achievement and integration plans to ensure they are more aligned with the district's goals and the realities faced by its diverse student population.