District dashboard shows gains in English-learner progress; chronic absenteeism flagged
Summary
Director Luis Ramos presented the district dashboard showing gains for English learners and large site-level increases at some schools, while chronic absenteeism rose 0.6 percentage points and placed the district in differentiated assistance for some student groups.
Luis Ramos, director of educational services, summarized the San Ysidro School District's 2024–25 dashboard and CAST assessment results at the Dec. 11 board meeting, highlighting areas of growth and concern.
Ramos told trustees the district's English learner progress indicator moved into the green: "Both our students who are long-term English learners and English learners are making progress," he said, citing a reported increase in the measure. He pointed to notable site-level gains, saying one school showed a 23-point increase in English language arts and a nearly 30-point rise in math compared with the prior year.
But Ramos also flagged attendance and chronic absenteeism as problems: "Unfortunately, for our district, [chronic absenteeism] increased 0.6," he said, and staff confirmed the district is in differentiated assistance for homeless students and students with disabilities. Trustees asked whether the district had data on reasons for absences and how independent-study participation affects absenteeism measures. Ramos said the district is reviewing reporting practices and working with the county to validate figures.
Trustee questions focused on whether data collection captures causes such as illness or fear related to immigration status, and whether cross-district comparisons could help identify interventions. Trustees and staff discussed targeted interventions, staffing stability and family supports as priorities to raise proficiency and attendance.
Board members applauded site teams and acknowledged that the dashboard is a snapshot that requires deeper school-by-school analysis as staff continue work on improvement plans.
