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Farmersville Junior High principal cites gains on California Dashboard; chronic absenteeism falls, ELA and math scores rise
Summary
Principal Sanchez told the board Farmersville Junior High saw a 24% increase in ELA and a 16% increase in math on the California School Dashboard, chronic absenteeism improved from roughly 36% to 12.3%, and 38 English‑learner students have been reclassified.
Farmersville Junior High Principal Sanchez reported measurable academic and attendance gains to the district board, citing the California School Dashboard and local interventions that the site credits with recent improvements.
Sanchez told trustees the school's English‑language arts performance rose by 24% and math by about 16% compared with the last Dashboard cycle; the school was removed from the state’s CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvement) designation in March 2024, he said. Sanchez also said the school’s chronic absenteeism rate improved from about 36% (a post‑COVID figure) to about 12.3% in the most recent Dashboard snapshot. He said 38 English‑learner students have been reclassified, which the school expects will expand students’ access to elective and career pathway classes at the high school.
Why it matters: growth on the state Dashboard and reduced chronic absenteeism affect Title I eligibility, program planning and the allocation of site intervention resources. Reclassification of EL students changes course placement and supports available to those students.
What Sanchez described
Sanchez outlined site strategies linked to improvement: implementation of a site‑level Student Engagement Rally, a homeroom period each Monday for social‑emotional learning and attendance work, targeted interventions (outside support from a firm called Corwin to review suspension practices), expanded parent‑engagement events, and after‑school programming that draws participation from neighboring districts. He credited a district‑level focus and partnership with staff for the gains.
Sanchez also described routine recognition programs that aim to increase motivation—student of the quarter, perfect‑attendance recognition, and incentives such as “Falcon Bucks”—and said the school hosts family engagement events including a College and Career night on April 10 and a Family Resource Fair on April 2.
Board reaction and follow‑up
Trustees praised the principal’s report and asked clarifying questions; trustees and the superintendent noted that other districts in the region sent representatives to observe Farmersville Junior High’s after‑school programming. Trustees asked the principal to continue reporting results as the site implements next‑step strategies.
Ending: The board acknowledged improvements but emphasized that while the data show progress the site continues to plan interventions to move performance further toward proficiency.
