NSPF review: Carson City sees math gains, mixed ELA results and an ACT‑participation penalty that cost a star

District staff on Oct. 28 presented the Carson City School District’s 2024–25 Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) results, highlighting strong math gains, mixed ELA outcomes and attendance challenges at the secondary level.

Dr. Ricky Medina and Brandon Bringhurst summarized that elementary schools posted notable gains in math proficiency and median growth percentiles after implementing a new elementary math curriculum. "At the elementary level, 4 out of our 6 schools saw growth in their math proficiency of anywhere between 6 and 10 percentage points," Bringhurst said. Middle schools also showed math gains; high‑school proficiency as measured by the ACT rose slightly.

ELA results were mixed: some elementary sites showed small gains while others were flat, and middle schools’ median growth percentile for ELA fell, raising concern about secondary reading outcomes. Presenters said the district is responding with curriculum and professional development changes (for example, full implementation of a new K–5 reading curriculum aligned to the science of reading).

Attendance and chronic absenteeism were central themes. District staff noted steady improvement at elementary schools — chronic absenteeism declined in four of six elementary sites — but middle and high schools continue to see higher rates. To address secondary attendance and life‑skills development, the district said it is rolling out an employability‑skills grade in all middle school classes and in high‑school CTE classes; the grade replaces the older, less‑defined citizenship grade and focuses on discrete behaviors (attendance, punctuality, teamwork and other employability competencies).

Bringhurst also explained a technical but consequential NSPF detail: Carson High School incurred a four‑point penalty because participation on the ACT was below the state 95% threshold for required test administration. "Those 4 points made the difference between them being a 3 star school and a 4 star school," Bringhurst said in the presentation. Presenters described the participation standard and reported that the district is engaging statewide groups to seek changes to how the state treats participation shortfalls and to encourage more reliable administration.

Presenters reviewed other NSPF indicators as well: Carson High scored strongly on college and career readiness measures and graduation‑rate metrics (district presenters noted high marks for AP/dual enrollment and CTE completion rates). The district reported nine school stars totaling 25 stars across the system, up five stars from the prior year; Fremont Elementary rose from one to three stars.

Board members discussed how the NSPF measures align with the district’s Power 2027 strategic goals and asked for continued emphasis on reading, MTSS, interventions for students with disabilities and English learners, and continued work on attendance systems.