Burlington High School on Monday presented a school improvement action plan that sets specific academic and career-readiness targets while showcasing a wave of new career and technical education resources.

The high school team told the Burlington Area School District board it is aiming to lift the average ACT math score for the class of 2027 from a preACT baseline of 18.2 to 19, and to raise English proficiency after fall progress-learning results that outpaced earlier expectations. "We actually scored about 18.9" on the fall assessment, a presenter said, signaling the district is close to its math target. For English, staff reported a fall progress-learning score of 19.7, above the 17.8 spring goal set for current juniors.

Administrators described concrete steps to meet those goals: testing students in an ACT-like environment, implementing standards-based grading in algebra and geometry, and using short daily bell-ringer activities tied to past ACT items. The school also runs a "Flex Success" intervention during advisory for students not meeting benchmarks; students attend twice weekly sessions for several weeks and can be removed when they reach targets.

Career and technical education updates were a central part of the presentation. Staff described a recent donation of a CNC plasma torch and related equipment from local businesses, which school leaders said will be integrated into the Gateway Welding Academy and metals/fabrication classes. The district reported a record number of youth-apprenticeship completions last year — 45 students working with roughly 30 employers — and said dual-credit enrollments have climbed toward roughly 2,000 credits districtwide.

Representatives from Educators Credit Union outlined plans for an in-school branch staffed by juniors or seniors in a youth-apprenticeship model, saying the program pairs financial education with hands-on member-service experience. "We hire two juniors or seniors from the youth apprenticeship program ... to train all summer with us to learn financial skills, but also professional skills," a credit-union presenter said.

Student groups also spoke about club growth and competitions: members of Educators Rising and the forensics team described expanded membership, conference participation and competitive events.

Board members did not take action on the presentation; staff invited follow-up questions by email and said many initiatives will continue to be implemented and evaluated through the school year.