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Everett schools show recovery in reading and science but math lags, district data show
Summary
Superintendent's staff presented the district's 2022 annual achievement report showing 64% proficiency in English language arts, 49.4% in math and 55.8% in science; board members asked for focused strategies for math and for follow-up on summer programming effectiveness.
Dr. Matthews, presenting the district's annual achievement report, told the Everett Public Schools Board of Directors on Oct. 25 that state assessment results showed a 64 percent pass rate in English language arts, 49.4 percent in math and 55.8 percent in science.
The presentation framed the results as a mix of recovery and continuing concern: elementary grades showed notable gains toward 2019 proficiency in several grades, but math performance declines as students age and subgroup gaps — particularly for multilingual learners and students with disabilities — remain pronounced. "What this means overall is that 4 out of 10 students in English language arts, 5 out of 10 in math, and 4 out of 10 in science did not meet standard," Dr. Matthews said.
Why it matters: the board heard that some cohorts have recovered substantially from pandemic-era declines while others have not, and that the district will rely on leading indicators (I-Ready diagnostics) and common assessments in Performance Matters to target instruction and interventions. Dr. Matthews described the district's approach as "clarity, context and candor," stressing both cohort trend analysis and classroom-level progress monitoring.
Key details: the presentation showed stronger recovery in early grades and in science, with more mixed results in middle and high school math. Dr. Matthews noted that third-grade ELA scores remain higher at intake and then decline in later grades, while math shows a sharper, sustained drop in proficiency as students move into secondary grades. Board members asked whether curriculum changes, testing timing or instruction minutes might explain the math results.
On summer programming, district staff reported tracked pre-post growth for elementary and middle school summer programs that ranged by grade and subject (described as between 15 and 44 percent growth on assessed priority standards for Grades 1'5 and 6'8). "We actually tracked for standards that were being assessed. We saw growth between 15'44 percent, depending on the grade level and whether it was in English language arts and math," a district staff member said.
Board response and follow-up: board members praised staff for the level of data detail and pressed for targeted strategies to address persistent math gaps and geographic/zip-code disparities in outcomes. Director Mason said the charts offered "a lot of hope" in places but that the overall numbers are "quite sobering." Dr. Salzman told the board the district must keep a "fierce urgency" on interventions and build on tools for progress monitoring so teachers can triage instruction.
What happens next: the board asked staff to provide additional views of the data (including alternative rankings and deeper analysis of the middle-grade math dips) and to report back on systemic issues found in the assessments. The superintendent also previewed upcoming agenda items, including a technology spotlight and a review of CTE programs in November.
Sources and attribution: statements and figures come from the district presentation given by Dr. Matthews and board discussion on Oct. 25, 2022. Questions and comments came from board members identified on the record, including Directors Mason, Herman, Nichols and others.
