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Paramount Unified unveils refreshed strategic plan, cites modest test gains and program expansions
Summary
Superintendent Josh Lytle told the State of the City luncheon that Paramount Unified’s updated strategic plan emphasizes deeper learning, social‑emotional supports, and expanded programs including full‑day TK and a growing dual‑language immersion program; the district reported moderate gains on state tests and a graduation rate above 91%.
Paramount Unified School District Superintendent Josh Lytle told attendees at the Paramount Chamber of Commerce State of the City luncheon that the district has updated its strategic plan to guide priorities for the coming years, describing it as the district’s “roadmap” that defines mission, vision, strategic priorities and a learner profile.
The plan, he said, focuses on five goals: elevating deeper learning and college, career and life readiness; instituting comprehensive professional learning; cultivating a nurturing, emotionally safe environment; enhancing family and community engagement; and building an inclusive, equitable district. "Every child every day," Lytle said, summarizing the district's mission.
The plan is tied to the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), Lytle said, and includes specific actions to align staff, fiscal resources and programming across schools. Lytle highlighted several program changes this year: a full‑day transitional kindergarten and kindergarten program, a dual‑language immersion program serving about 100 students in two kindergarten classes that will expand year to year, and 15 career technical education pathways at the high‑school level. He said the district also offers concurrent enrollment with local community colleges, including an early college administrative justice program in partnership with Compton College that can lead to an associate degree.
On performance, Lytle reported “moderate gains” on the Smarter Balanced assessments for English language arts and math for grades 3–8 and 11, a solid increase on the state’s college and career readiness indicator for the 2024 graduating class, and an on‑time graduation rate above 91 percent. He said the district uses state and local data to monitor goals and cited conservative, targeted efforts in mathematics instruction as producing measurable progress.
Lytle also stressed nonacademic supports. He said the district has expanded mental‑health staff, counselors and social workers, strengthened attendance initiatives to reduce chronic absenteeism (defined in district materials as missing 10 percent or more of enrolled days), and maintained low suspension rates through multi‑tiered systems of support.
A short video shown at the luncheon featured teachers and students discussing classroom strategies, extracurriculars and programs such as Inclusive Pirates Special Olympics and culinary and technical courses; the video is intended to illustrate how the strategic plan connects to classroom practice. Lytle closed by noting a policy change the board approved allowing employees who work 10 hours or more per week in the district to designate district residency for enrollment purposes, and said the district will send letters to local businesses about the change in coming weeks.
The superintendent did not present specific dollar amounts tied to the strategic plan in the luncheon remarks, and no board votes were taken during the presentation.
