PGUSD posts gains in math and science on 2024–25 state tests; slight dip in ELA
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Summary
Districtwide results for 2024–25 show the highest math scores in four years and a 7.28% gain on the California Science Test (CAST). English language arts overall edged down, driven in part by an unusually high‑scoring 11th‑grade cohort in the prior year.
Pacific Grove Unified’s executive director of educational services presented 2024–25 state assessment results to the board on Nov. 6, reporting gains in mathematics and science and a small decline in English language arts.
Larry Hedquist said the district’s Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) results show a 2‑point gain in math year‑to‑year — “the highest math scores that we’ve seen in four years” — and CAST (science) scores rose 7.28 percentage points. He described a slight decline in ELA and noted that an “outlier” 11th‑grade cohort the prior year had driven unusually high ELA results in 2023–24.
Hedquist reviewed subgroup results and cautioned about small sample sizes for some groups. He said students with disabilities posted the district’s best four‑year math showing, Hispanic/Latino students increased in math while showing a modest ELA decline, and English learners remain a variable group because reclassification and language‑proficiency shifts change the pool of students tested. He highlighted that 40.98% of current English learners scored at the summative ELPAC level 4 and are eligible for reclassification.
Hedquist called socioeconomically disadvantaged students a growth area, noting the local count of that subgroup fell from 230 to 176 students and that the district will consider the trend in LCAP revisions. He closed by framing the results as evidence of sustained instructional work and asked sites to continue using PLCs, common assessments and interventions.
Why it matters: State test scores are used for state accountability and local planning; the results will inform LCAP priorities and site‑level interventions. Hedquist recommended continued attention to focus groups (SED students, English learners, students with disabilities) and to classroom assessment practices.
Speakers: Larry Hedquist, executive director of educational services.
Authorities: California Department of Education assessments (SBAC, CAST, ELPAC) as referenced by presenter.
Clarifying details: CAST gains +7.28% districtwide; math up ~2 percentage points year‑to‑year; ELA slight decline year‑to‑year; EL reclassification eligibility: 40.98% level 4 on ELPAC; SED tested count decreased from 230 to 176 (reason not specified).
Provenance: topicintro — transcript block at 01:16:04, excerpt: "Larry Hedquist, executive director of educational services, ... present the state testing results for the 2024–25 school year" (reason_code: topicintro); topfinish — transcript block at 01:36:26, excerpt: "This data reinforces the hard work that's happening in the classrooms..." (reason_code: topicfinish).
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