SUSD data show 17-point math drop between fifth and sixth grades; board asks for school-by-school analysis

The Scottsdale Unified School District governing board heard preliminary 2025–26 achievement data showing a significant cohort decline in math between fifth and sixth grades, prompting trustees to ask for more fine-grained, school-by-school analyses before setting policy or new interventions.

Dr. Bachna, presenting initial state assessment and cohort analytics, highlighted the most alarming figure: “Arguably the biggest point of concern among all of our data is the decrease in performance from fifth to sixth grade in math where there was that 17%age point drop in two years.” The district’s presentation also showed mixed year-over-year changes across grades: modest gains in some elementary grades but declines in several others, while SUSD overall continued to outperform Arizona averages on many measures.

Leah Mitchell told the board the figures are preliminary and that staff will produce a deeper cohort and growth-percentile analysis this summer. “We will be identifying schools, grade levels, and content areas where we have needs for intensive intervention,” Mitchell said, and added the district plans a sustained August review to present targeted improvement plans and adjustments to pacing guides and curriculum when the full state data are released.

Board members pushed for clearer ways of slicing the data. Vice President Mike Shy said the district should avoid relying solely on statewide rank or averages: “When you look at those numbers, you see…there are trouble points.” He urged a surgical, school-by-school approach that would be more actionable. Dr. Patensky urged measuring absolute performance, trends, and alignment to long-term goals rather than only relative position: “Put more emphasis on how we’re performing on a trend basis, on an absolute basis and against goals.”

Presenters said the district will bring more disaggregated cohort information — including the four proficiency-level breakdowns by grade, school-by-school trend lines, and predecessor-skill measures — to the board in August so trustees can evaluate targeted interventions, staffing and curriculum changes, and progress-monitoring steps.

What’s next: District staff will complete the full state data release and return in August with cohort growth percentiles, school-level proficiency breakdowns and proposed intervention plans for the most affected grade levels. Trustees emphasized they want clear, school-by-school metrics and a schedule for regular progress updates.