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IUSD Unplugged: district posts strongest post-pandemic scores; City Honors posts double-digit math gains
Summary
In a recorded IUSD Unplugged segment, district leaders said Inglewood Unified achieved its strongest academic performance since before the pandemic, with English language arts proficiency at about 30% and math at nearly 20%; City Honors reported a 13-point math improvement and La Tijera Academy described double-digit gains in ELA and mathematics.
In a special IUSD Unplugged program presented as part of the city meeting, Bernadette Lucas, Inglewood Unified School District assistant superintendent for educational services, said the district's students "have achieved their strongest academic performance since before the pandemic," and described gains across tested subjects.
Lucas reported that 30% of students met or exceeded English language arts standards (up nearly four percentage points from the prior year) and that math proficiency rose 3.3 percentage points to nearly 20%, with notable eighth-grade gains. She said science scores reached "the highest levels in district history," and highlighted that proficiency among African American students doubled in one year.
Saba Araya, principal of City Honors International Preparatory School at the Iovine Young Center, credited daily use of CAST practice questions embedded in lessons, targeted interventions, data chats and a culture of high expectations for a 13-percentage-point math gain at her school. "Every teacher in the math department took the CAST practice questions and actually embedded them in their lesson plan every single day," Araya said.
Board Vice President Dr. Carlos McGee and County Administrator Dr. Jim Morris joined Mayor James T. Butts in discussing long-term recovery and the city-district partnership. McGee said the board prioritizes equity in decisions: "If it's not good for our students, it's not gonna be good for anybody." Mayor Butts described city support for schools including public-safety resources and plans to remodel the main library's third floor as an innovation center connected to Inglewood High School.
La Tijera Academy of Excellence principal Robbie Tate and teacher Denman Mays described concrete steps behind their double-digit growth in English language arts and math: adoption of the Amplify curriculum, AVID strategies, regular data chats, Saturday school and wellness supports. Sixth grader Mia Owens told hosts she reviewed notes, practiced test-taking strategies and focused on sleep and calm preparation leading to improved results.
Program hosts closed by emphasizing collaboration among district leadership, schools, city partners and families as the foundation of the gains and previewed a school visit to highlight classroom progress.
