Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Academic Outcomes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears progress on graduation rates and strategic-plan refresh; dual-language expansion noted
Summary
District staff reported sustained on-time graduation rates at 80%+ and improvements in five- to seven-year cohorts; staff flagged persistent subgroup gaps (notably Native American students) and described work to refresh the strategic plan and expand dual-language and dual-credit opportunities.
At the Nov. 18 meeting the Yakima School District presented progress on Goal 5 (persistence through graduation) and updates on the strategic-plan refresh under Goal 4.
Terry Davidson of the district's teaching-and-learning team told the board the district has sustained on-time graduation rates at 80% or above since 2022 and that adjusted cohort rates (including fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-year cohorts) are improving. Davidson highlighted subgroup gaps and said Native American students showed on-time rates near 50% in the dataset presented. Davidson recommended examining master schedules and building in credit-recovery opportunities during the school day to reduce the need for recovery outside normal hours.
Board members pressed on scheduling options; Dr. Green and other administrators explained historical calendar-committee deliberations, contractual constraints on earliest start dates (Aug. 15), and options such as trimesters or adding credits via dual-credit and CTE courses. Assistant Superintendent Maria Lucero said she is working on expanding dual-credit opportunities and described student-voice participation in the strategic-plan refresh.
Lucero asked the board to approve 2025—26 school improvement plans in order to release eligible funds; the board approved those plans during the meeting. Board members praised improvements in student behavior and reductions in suspensions over several years.
What this means: district staff said academic outcomes are moving in positive directions for some cohorts but that significant subgroup gaps remain; proposed interventions include schedule changes, credit-recovery opportunities during the school day, expansion of dual-credit options and continuing the strategic-plan metrics work through February.
