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Superintendent says district saw small test-score gains but remains below state averages
Summary
Superintendent Stocking presented MCSD’s annual State of the District, reporting modest gains in ELA and math but proficiency rates (35% ELA, 22% math) that lag state averages; Stocking highlighted targeted school-level gains, facility investments and partnerships with UC Merced and Merced College.
Superintendent Stocking opened the district’s annual State of the District on Oct. 28 by outlining five priority areas — relationships, safety, literacy, lowest-performing students and the board-superintendent partnership — and presenting district assessment and enrollment data.
Stocking said the district serves just over 11,000 students (preK–8) and reported CASP/CAST results for 2024–25 showing district proficiency at 35% in English language arts and 22% in mathematics, both below state averages. "As we look here, you'll see that there are five focus areas," Stocking said, noting both the challenge of being below state averages and pockets of substantial growth at individual schools.
The presentation highlighted multiple school improvements (for example, double-digit gains in specific grades at several elementary schools) and cited statewide metrics for comparison. Stocking also emphasized coordinated programs: structured-literacy work for primary grades, implementation of universal design for learning, and partnerships that connect early education through higher education, including events co-hosted with UC Merced and Merced College.
On facilities and investments, Stocking pointed to bond-funded projects and renderings for middle-school athletic facilities and a student engagement center near John Muir. The superintendent framed these capital improvements alongside instructional priorities, arguing that safer, better-maintained facilities are part of the support structure for student success.
Trustees expressed appreciation for the data visualizations and asked staff to return with program-level analyses to show what interventions are associated with gains. Stocking and staff said they would provide follow-ups and more disaggregated analyses at future governance updates.
