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Principals present school plans highlighting attendance gains, EL progress and persistent math gaps
Summary
Principals from multiple LUSD schools reported attendance improvements and English‑learner gains but flagged math weaknesses in specific grades; schools outlined targeted interventions, family engagement steps and next‑year goals to raise proficiency and reduce absenteeism.
Principals from several Lakeside Union School District campuses presented their School Plans for Student Achievement and recent assessment data during the board meeting.
At the opening site presentation, Speaker 3 summarized local MAP (NWEA) and CAST results, noting MAPs are near national norms while statewide CAST scores showed less growth. "Our kindergarten was 8 points away from meeting the national norm," the presenter said, and added that third grade was 11 points short. The site has added clubs (a math club, encore, basketball, jump rope) and reported 94% attendance, and the presenter invited board members to upcoming family events and a surprise attendance incentive on the 29th.
"We are on track to either meeting that national standard or exceeding it in all grade levels," John Greenwell, principal at Riverview International Academy, said after presenting improvements: 3–5 CAST proficiency rose from 64.29% to 69.13% and grade‑band proficiency increased from 54.12% to 57.96%. Greenwell highlighted immersion program success in target‑language assessments, with high percentages of Spanish and Mandarin students meeting or exceeding domain standards.
Jen Price, principal at Lemoncrest, reviewed three site goals — academic growth, social‑emotional learning and attendance — and said the school aims to raise ELA and math proficiency by 5% by June 2026 while increasing EL reclassification and reducing new special‑education referrals. Price described MTSS/PLC work, PBIS and added counseling supports, and noted CHKS participation (49% response) limits interpretation of some climate measures.
Paula Matias, vice principal at Terrence Olsen Middle School, said the school sees growth and reported CHKS results showing 69% of students feel held to high expectations and 52% report a caring adult; her goals include increasing inclusive teaching practices 50% and reducing chronic absenteeism 25% through family partnerships.
Mike Dawson, principal at Lakeside Middle School, said his site will tighten PLC practice and introduce teacher‑built common formative assessments to target math and ELA growth. Dawson pointed to an attendance increase from 93.5% last year to about 96% so far and described outreach such as "coffee with the principal" to build parent engagement.
Several principals called out a pattern of higher MAP growth not fully reflected in CAST performance and said staff will analyze cohorts and refine instruction; fourth‑grade math emerged across sites as a particular area of concern. Dream Academy reported rapid enrollment growth and a near‑perfect reported attendance rate supported by independent‑study scheduling, and its speakers emphasized project‑based learning and new literacy supports (UFLI) to address gaps.
The presentations included invitations for board members to school events and detailed site plans for the coming year. The board did not take separate public votes on each campus presentation during the meeting; several schools were presented for review as part of the district planning process.
The district said next steps include continued PLC work, targeted interventions in grades and subjects that lag on CAST results, expanded family‑engagement efforts and follow‑up on school climate data where response rates were low.
