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Richfield presents results under Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness; several goals not met
Summary
District leaders reported on Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness and Achievement & Integration goals: pre-K kindergarten-readiness rose but fell short of an 85% target (75% literacy, ~61% math), a 2% target to shrink racial achievement gaps was not met, and the district missed a 90% four-year graduation goal (overall ~85.8%).
District directors Rachel Jens and Alex Ward presented the Richfield Public Schools Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR) and Achievement & Integration reports at the Dec. 15 board meeting, reviewing strategies and outcomes for pre-kindergarten readiness, achievement gaps, ACT scores and graduation rates.
Jens said the district set an 85% kindergarten-readiness goal for four-year-old pre-K students using the Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment. Of about 170 pre-K students, the fall baseline showed roughly 10% readiness and the spring results rose to about 75% in literacy and just over 61% in math — improvements the presenters called meaningful but short of the 85% target. Jens said the district plans to sustain literacy work while shifting more professional-development focus back to math as required LETRS coaching obligations conclude.
On closing racial achievement gaps, Jens said the district aimed for a 2% reduction but did not close the gap in 2023'24 despite some gains for students of color. Alex Ward summarized college- and career-readiness metrics: 34% of eleventh-graders met the ACT English readiness benchmark, 17% met Math, 30% Reading and 24% Science; 13% met all four benchmarks (the district's stated target was 14%). Graduation-rate reporting (noted as lagging data) showed Richfield High School at 86.2% and RSIP at 73.5% for a combined district rate of about 85.8% for the 2023'24 cohort, short of the 90% goal.
Board members asked about training time devoted to literacy (LETRS) and whether it limited math coaching; presenters acknowledged the tradeoff, said most required literacy training will be complete by year-end, and committed to refocusing on math professional development. The presenters also said the district will continue to refine metrics for the new "lifelong learning" goal and will draft a new achievement and integration plan in the spring.
The board did not take a formal vote on the academic report; staff said they will continue yearly reporting and bring refinements into the strategic plan and future dashboards.
