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Middle and high school leaders report MTSS expansion, FastBridge baselines; FHS AP and concurrent enrollment surge
Summary
Middle-school leaders described a year of implementing MTSS, new six-period schedules and tiered interventions using FastBridge diagnostics; high school leaders reported large increases in AP and concurrent-enrollment participation and flagged declining ACT repeat-taking and PSEO trends.
Middle- and high-school administrators updated the Farmington School Board on 2024'25 implementation priorities, including expanded MTSS interventions at Bachman and Dodge middle schools and a substantial rise in advanced coursework at Farmington High School.
Middle-school presentation: administrators described a transition to a six-period day, added math and literacy interventionists and classroom-embedded push-in/pull-out models aligned to FastBridge screening and diagnostic data. "We have transitioned to FastBridge assessments and Joe is gonna kind of take us through the types of assessments we're giving this year," Mr. Sage said during the presentation; Mr. Nelson and other leaders noted sixth graders are arriving with higher low-risk/exceeds percentages than older cohorts and that the district will reassess in January and spring to measure cohort progress.
Administrators said that current FastBridge baselines show higher percentages of low-risk/exceeds in sixth grade with declines by eighth grade, and they stressed that these are early data points because the district has not yet completed a full testing cycle. They described classroom- and department-level alignment, expanded professional development on literacy (including rollout tied to state READ Act requirements), and use of PBIS and advisory structures to support social-emotional needs.
High-school presentation: Ryan Meyer, Farmington High School principal, reported a major increase in advanced coursework and college access work. Meyer said 704 students were enrolled in AP courses in trimester 1 this year, about 200 more than the prior year. He reported concurrent-enrollment participation had roughly doubled since 2022 and that 73% of AP test takers scored a 3 or higher on most recent exams (up from about 62% the previous year). "We're at 704 learners right now, and trimester 1 are enrolled in an AP course. That's 200 more than what we had last year," Meyer said.
Administrators also discussed PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) and noted an ongoing shift in higher-education admissions and online offerings. Meyer said some colleges have reduced PSEO entry requirements and that roughly 18'20% of district students who begin PSEO subsequently withdraw; counselors are advising families on fit and timelines.
Board members pressed on measures of impact: when FastBridge will provide comparative results (January and spring are next data points) and how the district will monitor gains in cohorts that start stronger in sixth grade. Administrators emphasized diagnostic power of FastBridge to target interventions (phonemic awareness, specific reading skill deficits) and noted the district will continue to refine intervention scheduling and progress monitoring.
No new formal action was taken on programs; the presentation was informational.
