New Haven Unified dashboard shows higher graduation rate but English‑learner progress lags

John Matos, the district’s director of Digital Services, told the New Haven Unified School District Board on Jan. 14 that the state’s 2023–24 school dashboard shows mixed results: a notable increase in graduation rates alongside continued weaknesses in English‑learner progress.

Matos led trustees through the state dashboard methodology — including the SBAC‑derived “distance from standard” measure that determines color ratings — and said the district’s overall status is orange, with a 5.9‑point distance from the standard in English language arts. "This is our they call this the baseball card; unfortunately we are in an orange — we are 5.9 points from standard," Matos said.

On the positives, Matos reported the district’s four‑year graduation rate rose to 87.3%, up 2.2 percentage points from the prior year and moving the district into a green rating on that measure. Suspension rates remain low (1.7% districtwide) and chronic absenteeism improved: the district’s K–8 chronic absenteeism rate was 20.9%, a decline of about 3.9 points from the prior year, though still above the state average of 18.6%.

Matos highlighted struggles among long‑term English learners — a new student group on the dashboard — and said the district scored orange on the English‑learner progress indicator, with 44.5% of English learners making progress, a 3.6‑point decline from the previous year and slightly below the county and state averages. Matos said this measure is based on the LPAC language proficiency assessment and that the state reclassified scoring bands this year, which affects year‑to‑year interpretation.

He also noted the science indicator is new and currently reports status only (no prior‑year change); New Haven is about 12 points below the standard on that measure for the first year of reporting.

Matos told the board the district is responding with targeted professional development and family engagement to support English learners and described operational steps — including earlier placement in alternative pathways where appropriate — that helped raise graduation outcomes. He closed by taking no formal action; the presentation was received for information and Trustees did not request follow‑up motions during the meeting.