Hughson students continued to make progress on state tests that measure their performance in English and math and then compare their results to Common Core State Standards established for all California students.

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) tests are comprehensive end-of-year assessments taken by students in grades three through eight as well as high school juniors and students classified as English learners at all grade levels from kindergarten through high school.

In 2024, the computer-based SBAC tests were taken by 1,043 Hughson Unified students. The results are then aggregated by district on what is known as the California School Dashboard. Assistant Superintendent Carrie Duckart shared Hughson Unified’s results at the February Board of Trustees meeting.

English scores in 2024 across the district were 23 points below the state standard. The results were consistent with Hughson Unified’s performance the previous two years. Across California, the average district is 13.6 points below the state standard.

“We are observing typical growth in several student groups, notably among our white, English Learner (EL), Long-Term English Learner (LTEL) and Asian populations,” Duckart said. “This indicates a positive trend in our instructional strategies and support systems for these groups.  While we celebrate the successes of these groups, it is essential to focus on enhancing support for our Hispanic, socioeconomically disadvantaged and students with disabilities.”

Math scores remained stubbornly low at 58.4 points below state standards in 2024. Still, that is a 5.7-point improvement over 2023 and nearly 20-point improvement over 2022. Across the state, average math scores are 47.6 below the state standards.

“In mathematics, we are witnessing typical growth among our white, Asian and socioeconomically disadvantaged students,” Duckart explained. “This reflects our commitment to providing an effective learning environment for these groups.  However, it is crucial to adopt a more strategic approach to support our EL, LTEL, Hispanic and students with disabilities in math.

“By leveraging data and best practices, we can tailor our interventions to ensure all students achieve their full potential.  By recognizing our strengths and addressing the needs of underrepresented groups, we can create a more equitable and supportive educational experience for all students in our district.”

English learners in the district took a slight step back in 2024, with only 47.8% showing language improvement compared with 51.2% in 2023. Still, Hughson remained slightly above the state average of 45.7% of those students showing improvement.

Duckart said the district’s students continue to benefit from the interventions that were put in place at all sites during COVID. For instance, she said that students needing intervention in phonics a foundational reading skill by the end of third grade has decreased from 42% in 2022 to 15% in 2024. 

“All students can learn and succeed, but not all on the same day in the same way,” she said.

The SBAC tests also include an evaluation of “academic engagement,” and by that measure Hughson Unified students are ahead of state averages in three areas:

·         Chronic absenteeism improved with 16.2% of Hughson students falling into that category compared with 22.5% in 2023.

·         Hughson’s high school graduation rate of 94.7% remained above the state average of 86.7%.

·         Suspensions remained low at just 2.7% compared with the state average of 3.2%.

“We were happy with our growth in math and improvement in attendance,” Duckart said. “We will continue to focus there and on our student groups of EL and students with disabilities.”