Last week, the State Department of Education released the results of the 2023-24 Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English and mathematics. Students at Idyllwild School performed better overall than the statewide results and the County and the Hemet Unified School District results.
In English, overall, 55.6% of the Idyllwild School students (grades 3 through 8) met or exceeded the standards. This was more than a 6% improvement over the 2022-23 test results. Statewide, 47% of students met or exceeded the English standard.
Countywide 42% of students, about the same percentage as last year, obtained these levels. Although in the Hemet Unified School District, the percentage of all students (which included grade 11) who met or exceeded the English standard was only 32%. This was slightly higher than the 2022-23 percentage of 29.7%.
But HUSD Superintendent Dr. Christi Barrett noted that overall, and especially is including students who are socio-economically disadvantaged, students in foster care, homeless youth, as well as other student groups who face potential barriers to learning, HUSD’s growth was significant. Compared to the State, the percentage of HUSD’s students who exceeded or met the English language standards grew by 2.5% whereas the increase statewide was only 0.3%.
“As a school district, we remain committed to serving all students, including and especially those who have traditionally been kept furthest from opportunity. With that, we are proud to say that with the release of the 2024 Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment scores, our district is now performing with the greatest growth since the pandemic,” said Christie Barrett, HUSD Superintendent in an email to the Town Crier. “Notably, several of our student groups that have traditionally performed below standard have made exceptionally substantial growth. So much so that these student groups are no longer identified for differential assistance.”
In Idyllwild, these percentages also better the 2021-22 levels of 50% meeting or exceeding the English standard. Last year, at Idyllwild School, only 25% of the third grades students met or exceeded the English standards. This was the fewest of the six grades tested. But from 3^(rd) to 8^(th), there was constant improvement. Of the eighth grade students, 72% met or exceeded standards. Nearly a fifth of students in grades 4 through 8 exceeded the standards.
Overall achievement on the mathematics assessment was generally below the English results, yet there was improvement from last year to the current results. For example, Statewide 35.6% of students met or exceeded the mathematics standard, which was 1% more than in 2022-23.
For Idyllwild School, in 2023-24, 39.7% of students met or exceeded the standard compared to 37.5% in 2022-23. For HUSD, only 16.8% of students met or exceeded the standard, which was about the same as last year. Countywide 28% of students attained these levels, a 1% improvement.
Slightly more than half of last year’s third grade class met or exceeded the mathematics standard, the highest percentage of the six grades tested. The percentages range from 30% to 44%.
“These improvements are a testament to the hard work of our students, teachers, and staff, and to our shared dedication to providing a learning environment where every student can become successful in college, careers, and life. We are truly excited about the strides we’ve made and look forward to continuing this upward trajectory,” Barrett wrote.
“I commend California’s students and educators for their hard work and continued growth in academic achievement across the state,” said State Superintendent Tony Thurmond in the press release announcing the results availability. “We know the high potential of all California’s students, and we still have a ways to go to ensure that every child is supported to build strong academic skills and access a bright future. We are providing key resources for all schools to get there, including providing funding for reading coaches, high-dose tutoring programs, extended school days, and professional learning for educators.”
