Principals report test-score gains, fewer suspensions and continued staffing strains at Wauwatosa School District growth-plan presentations

Wauwatosa School District principals spent a March special meeting walking the board through a second installment of school growth-plan results, showing measurable gains in assessments and disciplinary outcomes while flagging continuing implementation and staffing challenges.

Bridal, principal of West High, said academic indicators are moving "in the right direction," reporting lower rates of B's and F's and higher A rates this semester, improved STAR math and reading scores, rising AP participation and the lowest number of out-of-school suspensions in four years. She cited a drop in office-discipline risk ratios among Black students from 8.35 in 2024 to 4.79 currently, and said the schoolhas three primary goals: elevating student discourse, expanding career-course connections and reducing disproportionality. "We believe this is what systems-driven culture looks like in a high school," Bridal said.

Whitman Middle School and several elementary principals gave similar accounts of progress tied to the districtPACE professional-learning cycle, coaches and formative-assessment protocols. Presenters reported districtwide STAR reading and math gains from fall to winter (Whitman cited increases of roughly 6.41 and 5.91 points, respectively) and showed tools intended to put common data and gradebook filters in one place for teacher teams.

At Eisenhower Elementary, staff confidence metrics rose in midyear measures and ORF/STAR growth rates improved across grade levels; the principal credited coordinated PACE meetings, PBIS systems and targeted small-group instruction. Underwood and Madison principals emphasized interventions for the districttarget group of students, with Underwood reporting about a 98% implementation rate for a new ELA framework and Madison reporting that major referrals dropped 79% and minor referrals 64% since October. "What I'm here to do tonight is to show you what's actually happening at Madison, not through opinion or narrative, but data," said Madison principal Shanice Guiardo.

School leaders also described operational challenges. West and Whitman staff said the new personal-device policy appears to be producing far fewer daily confiscations than last year, while principals noted the complexity of integrating hybrid and fully virtual learners into building-level progress monitoring and course choices. Multiple elementary principals urged the board to prioritize special-education staffing and earlier family outreach, saying gaps in aides and special-education personnel constrain timely support for vulnerable students.

Montessori leaders described attempts to reconcile Montessori methods with standardized-strand reporting and said the school is exploring American Montessori Society accreditation tailored to public schools. Wilson/WSTEM leadership outlined a year of culture work as the programs align and reported ORF proficiency in the 70s and strong conference attendance.

District leadership closed by urging the board to share the evidence of school improvements with the community to "counter narratives" that schools are failing. The meeting ended on a procedural motion to adjourn that carried on a roll-call vote; no new policies or budget votes were taken.

What comes next: principals said they will continue to refine PACE cycles, scale math-pilot practices and work with district staff on transportation and staffing plans ahead of the budget season. Board members asked for more details on hybrid-student monitoring, the format of the districtpublic dashboard that Madison referenced, and follow-up plans for special-education capacity.