Hughcrest principal highlights attendance gains, reading accuracy and new curriculum

Jennifer Thompson, principal of Hughcrest Elementary, presented midyear school performance data, credited recent curriculum adoptions and highlighted bright spots in reading and science achievement.

Thompson said attendance has generally been strong compared with the state and described a parent communication effort (Monday morning messages via ParentSquare) and classroom competitions that helped reduce dips caused by recent illness. She cited reading-accuracy benchmarks (fourth grade 94% at benchmark, fifth grade 97% at benchmark) and reported improvement in K26ndash;1 phonemic awareness after adopting a new ELA curriculum. Thompson also noted promising growth on formative math diagnostics and attributed fifth-grade science success to two years of using Amplify Science.

Board members asked how the districts curriculum choices (Amplify in math and CKLA in reading) will feed into middle and high school readiness; Thompson said principals across levels shared data and that high school staff were already expressing optimism about incoming students writing and reading preparation.

Members of the board and audience later recognized student leaders and staff; the meeting also included a Hughcrest choir performance and student awards prior to the business session.