Initial results from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) reflect continued academic strength according to preliminary district data. While full comparative reporting, including statewide and countywide benchmarks, will be released by the state in October, early indicators showcase substantial longitudinal growth as students progress from junior high through high school.
The CAASPP assessments, administered annually to students in 7th, 8th, and 11th grades, measure proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science. By tracking the cohort of 11th-grade students back to their 8th-grade baseline, the latest data reveals that high school juniors are significantly building upon the academic foundation established during their junior high years.
The preliminary data confirms that the district maintains its long-standing history of academic strength, particularly in ELA.
ELA: Reflecting an established history of strength in literacy, every comprehensive high school and five junior high schools scored in the "Proficient" or "Advanced" categories.
Science: High school science scores saw an overall 10% increase across the district.
Math: Math scores grew by approximately 3% districtwide, bolstered by impressive growth at Canyon High School and Hart High School, and strong performances at La Mesa Junior High, Rio Norte Junior High, and Sierra Vista Junior High.
Tracking Progress Over Time
By tracking the same cohort of students from 8th grade to 11th grade, district data reveals that high school juniors are accelerating their growth and expanding on their junior high foundations.
18-Point Jump in Science: The clearest gains occurred in science, where the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced leapt 18 percentage points between 8th and 11th grade. Every high school improved by double-digits, led by a 21-point jump at Canyon and 15-point gain at West Ranch.
13-Point Climb in ELA: Districtwide ELA proficiency rose by 13 percentage points for this cohort. Canyon posted a staggering 31-point increase, while Saugus students improved by 21 points.
Math Gains: While overall cohort math growth was modest, individual campuses saw striking improvement. Canyon achieved a 28-point increase in math proficiency, while Hart and Castaic gained 6 points and 4 points, respectively.
"Tracking the same group of students over time offers a rich and more precise picture of academic progress than simply comparing different cohorts of students year to year," said Superintendent Vierra. "These initial results demonstrate that our high schools are successfully taking the strong foundation built in junior high and accelerating student growth toward college and career readiness."
Comprehensive results, including state and county comparative data, will be available when official reports are released in October.