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Mt. Pilchuck principal reports reading, math gains but falls short of ambitious goals
Summary
Mt. Pilchuck Principal Malissa Weatherbie told the Lake Stevens School Board that reading proficiency rose from 39% (fall 2023) to 73% (spring 2024) and math from 22% to 65%; multilingual learners increased reading-level proficiency from 20% to 67%. The principal said the school is closing gaps but did not reach its stretch goals.
Principal Malissa Weatherbie told the Lake Stevens School Board on June 12 that Mt. Pilchuck Elementary made measurable academic progress this year but did not hit the school’s ambitious targets. "Based on the fall 2023 iReady reading diagnostic, 39% of students were performing at grade level," Weatherbie said, and the school reached 73% at the spring diagnostic, short of a stated 80% goal. In math, the school rose from 22% at grade level in the fall to 65% in the spring (goal: 70%).
Weatherbie highlighted subgroup gains: multilingual learners improved from 20% at grade level in reading to 67% in spring, an increase she described as "well above" district elementary averages. She also cited WIDA results showing 21% of multilingual learners exited services this year, up from 15% the prior year. On attendance, Mt. Pilchuck exceeded its goal: 76.18% of students attended at least 90% of the time, surpassing a 75% target.
Weatherbie stressed that staff training and curriculum changes contributed to gains — the school implemented CKLA curriculum and district LETRS training — and pointed to improvements in foundational reading (kindergartners reading CVC words earlier in the year). She also summarized staff survey results on behavioral supports, noting that roughly 79% of staff rated the PBIS system at a 4 or 5 and that most staff feel supported in managing challenging behaviors.
Board members commended the presentation. Director David Iseminger thanked Weatherbie for ambitious goals and Director Paul Lund said he appreciated the candid presentation and that "what is measured gets done." President Taylor praised the presentation visuals.
Why it matters The school's gains — particularly for multilingual learners — indicate progress on equity-focused goals and show the district's interventions and training may be narrowing achievement gaps. The school staff and board flagged continued work is needed to reach stretch targets.
What’s next Mt. Pilchuck will continue CKLA implementation and MTSS interventions; the principal reported optimism that continued curriculum and training will move scores closer to the stated goals.
