PGUSD reports midyear LCAP gains: graduation and AP pass rates rise, chronic absenteeism unchanged

Pacific Grove Unified presented its midyear Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) update Feb. 27, reporting several metric improvements — notably a rise in graduation and AP pass rates — while chronic absenteeism remained flat.

Executive Director of Educational Services Larry Hedquist said the LCAP is a three‑year local plan aligned to state priorities that guides the district’s use of targeted funds and programs. Hedquist called the LCAP a “road map” that ties the district’s goals and expenditures to local needs and state metrics and said staff will gather additional community and student input in March before revising the plan for year two.

Key metrics from the midyear update - Graduation rate: increased from 85.6% to 93.4% (measured cohort standard), moving toward the district’s 3‑year goal. - AP pass rate (students scoring 3+): last year’s cohort reached 91%, exceeding the three‑year target. - A–G completion (college preparatory course sequence): rose from 37.2% to 57.4%. - Career and Technical Education (CTE) completion: rose from 13.5% to 16.4%. - ELA CAASPP (state assessment) meeting/exceeding standards: 70.7% to 72.8% — among the highest in the county. - Math CAASPP meeting/exceeding standards: 56.9% to 57.9%. - English learner progress: increased from 54.4% to 70.4%. - Chronic absenteeism: remained at 15.8% and did not improve in the reported year.

Hedquist highlighted that several LCAP measures have already met or exceeded the district’s three‑year goals and flagged the district’s planned March engagement calendar — student advisory committees, parent advisory meetings and community forums — to collect qualitative input and finalize budget‑linked revisions.

Expenditures and alignment The presentation included midyear expenditures tied to the four LCAP goals: academic programs, social‑emotional learning (SEL), academic support/intervention, and cultural proficiency. Hedquist said instructional materials, staff development and targeted intervention funding appear in the midyear ledger and will be adjusted in the budget development process.

Community and board response Trustees and public commenters praised the clear presentation of metrics. Several speakers linked the LCAP findings to the budget debate earlier in the meeting: community members and therapists urged continued investment in mental‑health and SEL programming as part of the district’s LCAP goals. Hedquist closed with a quote he attributed to author Brené Brown: “When you get to a place where you understand that love and belonging, your worthiness is a birthright and not something you have to earn, then anything is possible.”

Next steps Hedquist said staff will collect additional survey and advisory input in March and use the district’s budget‑development timetable to align any revisions with available funding; a revised LCAP will be presented later in the spring for board consideration.

Ending The midyear update underscored academic gains while highlighting persistent areas for attention — notably chronic absenteeism — and set out a public schedule for community input to inform updated goals and expenditures.