North Wasco County SD 21 board session focuses on student belonging after YouthTruth survey flags reading and attendance gaps

At a recent North Wasco County SD 21 board session, district staff and school principals reviewed results from the district’s first recent YouthTruth student survey and discussed how student experience data relate to academic outcomes and the district’s performance growth targets.

Dr. Arvey, who led the data session, told the board that “students with a strong sense of belonging are more likely to engage in school,” and that the district should read perception and performance data together to find levers for improvement. The YouthTruth administration in 2025 drew 2,082 student respondents in grades 3–12 and produced district‑level snapshots of belonging, engagement, relationships, school culture and academic challenge.

Why it matters: board members and principals said perception data appeared to connect to outcomes the district tracks as common metrics — regular attendance, third‑grade reading proficiency, ninth‑grade on‑track, four‑year graduation and five‑year completion — and that understanding the reasons behind the numbers will shape interventions. Several principals argued that improving belonging and teacher‑student relationships could support attendance and later academic gains.

What the data showed and how the board discussed it - District staff explained that survey results are reported as…