Board hears graduation report and approves new high-school and middle-school courses

The Middleton District presented the Class of 2025 graduation report and a package of new course proposals for middle and high schools.

District staff explained how the state uses cohort methodology to calculate 4-year and 5-year graduation rates and described categories used by the state (graduates, early graduates, nongraduates, transfers). The administration reported the district’s rates are above the state average and noted the Middleton Academy alternative program’s 4-year rate is lower but comparatively high for that program type; district staff emphasized their registrars’ efforts to track students who transfer so the cohort denominator is accurate.

On curriculum, staff proposed filmmaking 3 and 4 to extend an existing filmmaking sequence, and a senior-level "Design Your Future" course developed in collaboration with Design Tech High School (Santa Clara) that would replace the traditional senior project with a design-thinking portfolio, mentorships and required internships. The superintendent described the class outcomes — adaptability, self-awareness, project management and a capstone addressing a local "wicked problem" — and noted three district teachers and a counselor would team-teach the course. Middle-school proposals include a creative-writing elective and a 'stream team' elective focused on watershed science and ecology.

Board members approved the new clubs and the new courses by voice vote; they asked administration to provide details on staffing, how multiple filmmaking levels would be scheduled in one period if necessary, and enrollment thresholds that would determine whether a course runs. One trustee requested non-graduation breakdowns (students still in district but not graduating) and the district offered to run that statistic.

Next steps: the board approved the course additions and asked administrators to return with implementation details about staffing, scheduling and enrollment thresholds.