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Franklin SSD credits Aspire 2029 with test-score gains, earns Exemplary District status
Summary
Franklin SSD reported districtwide gains on the spring 2025 state assessment, including double-digit proficiency increases in several grades, and said it earned Exemplary District status in 2025 while expanding mental-health supports and instructional alignment under its Aspire 2029 plan.
Franklin SSD reported that students made measurable academic progress after a year of implementing Aspire 2029, the district’s strategic plan, and that it earned Exemplary District status in 2025, a designation the district said only 14 districts statewide received.
Dr. Snowden of Franklin SSD said the district saw growth “in every subject area across all grade levels,” and that several grades posted double-digit proficiency gains on the spring 2025 state assessment after the district updated standards and strengthened common formative assessments.
The district credited those gains to updated essential standards and success criteria in reading and math, deeper instructional alignment across classrooms and broader use of research-based tools such as i‑Ready. Officials said professional learning communities (PLCs) have been strengthened so educator teams can continuously analyze data and adjust instruction. Several schools earned Model PLC at Work recognition, and the district said it is on track for district-level PLC designation.
School leaders also described efforts to support student well-being as central to academic success. The district said every school has a school counselor and access to on-site or partnered mental-health professionals and that services are being expanded for students who need support during and outside the school day. Officials noted that all FSD schools have earned Unified Champion Schools designation and that each school has a certified therapy dog.
Officials highlighted communications and community engagement as part of the plan’s implementation: the district pointed to website resources, ParentSquare notifications for families, and outreach activities such as story times at community festivals and Founders Day events. The district said its branding work received national recognition.
"We're proud of how far we've come, and even more excited about where we're headed," Dr. Snowden said, summarizing the district’s view of progress under Aspire 2029. The district described Aspire 2029 as a "living plan" that will continue to be guided by community input and measured by ongoing progress.
The presentation did not include votes or formal board actions; officials framed the report as an update on strategy, results and ongoing priorities rather than a request for immediate policy changes.
