District reports midyear reading and math gains; trustees press on middle‑school dip and achievement gaps

District assessment staff presented winter projections from I‑Ready and MAP that show improvement in projected proficiencies from fall 2024 to winter 2026 across grades 3–8.

Dr. Clamp said reading projections indicate growth (for example, projected reading proficiency rose from 58.4% in the winter projection for 2025 to about 62.6% for winter 2026), and that mathematics projections show modest gains (district‑level projection from roughly 58% in spring 2025 to about 60.3% in winter 2026). He singled out third through fifth grades for notable reading gains and flagged continued attention to middle school instruction to sustain gains into higher grades.

Trustees asked pointed questions about where progress falters: members noted that gains often slow or dip in seventh and eighth grade and asked whether that is a district, state or national pattern. Presenters said transition effects nationally can depress midyear measures and that district strategies include PLCs, MTSS work and targeted instructional supports in middle schools.

Trustees also urged continued focus on subgroup performance; staff reported projected gains for pupils in poverty and students with disabilities and said the district is closely monitoring black and Hispanic student outcomes as well as multilingual learners. The presentation will inform 90‑day plans in the coming weeks.