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Students praise electives, counselors and clubs; district touts CAASPP gains and awards
Summary
A student panel at Benicia Unified’s State of the District described strong electives, counseling supports and extracurriculars; Superintendent Damon Wright highlighted district awards and significant gains on state math assessments.
A student panel at Benicia Unified’s State of the District event highlighted the district’s elective choices, counseling supports, extracurricular strength and sense of community, while Superintendent Damon Wright presented recent academic recognition and assessment gains.
Panel moderator Parker Sowers, a senior at Benicia High School, introduced seven students who described options that helped them explore careers and personal interests. Panelists praised electives such as theater, marketing and career-technical courses, dual-enrollment opportunities with Solano Community College and programs that surface student passions early in middle school.
Student experiences and supports Students said counseling services, college-and-career workshops and campus wellness centers helped with college applications and emotional support. “The counselors at both Benicia and Liberty High School are great,” student Jacob Morgan said, noting counselor support for community-college enrollment and scholarships. Several students credited athletics and performing arts with building work ethic, leadership and confidence.
Why it matters: student testimony underscores program strengths that district leaders say contributed to measurable gains in assessment results and awards.
District achievements Wright listed awards and metrics: the district has received National Blue Ribbon and California Gold Ribbon recognitions in past years and recorded substantial CAASPP math gains in 2023–24, with district math achievement rising from 45% to 53%. Wright cited site-level gains (Benicia High up 11 points, Benicia Middle up 19 points in eighth-grade math) and other grade-level improvements; he also noted an 81.44% AP passing rate at Benicia High and a 96.8% graduation rate.
Inclusion and special education Students and Wright discussed inclusive opportunities: district programs such as unified games, student-led recycling and adapted yearbook roles were presented as examples of inclusion. Wright said the district uses a continuum-of-services model for special education, prioritizing the least-restrictive environment and IEP-based parent engagement.
Ending: Panelists encouraged peers who struggle academically to consider alternative programs — one student recommended Liberty High School for smaller class sizes and one-on-one support — while district leaders framed the academic results as momentum the district must sustain amid financial pressures.
