Launched in 2024, the annual Smarter Balanced assessments brought concerning news for students across the Los Angeles public school system. Still, amidst concerns, there were harmonious buzz and overall gains for the district as a whole. According to the results obtained this spring, LAUSD students exhibited impressive progress in math and English, inching closer to state averages.
### Highlights
LAUSD scores showed an increase in math and English across nearly every grade level and demographic, outperforming statewide improvements.
* 43% of LAUSD students met grade-level standards in English, an 1.8 percentage point rise from 2023.
* 32.8% of students met English standards, up 2.3 percentage points.
* 24% of students met standards in science, a 1.8 percentage increase.
### Proficiency Rates
* 57% of LAUSD students do not meet standards in English.
* 67.2% do not meet standards in math.
* 76% do not meet standards in science.
### Student Growth
School Board President Jackie Goldberg acknowledged the improving scores but emphasized that, “We’re not done.” “We’re not at the state average in anything yet. … But when you see growth like this, you actually now believe that it’s possible to get there.”
Supt. Alberto Carvalho concurred, emphasizing that student growth is what matters most. “America has a proficiency issue, particularly applicable to students of color, English language learners, and students with disabilities. The strategy for that is to improve the rate of growth, separating those students from all other students in America, and what we’re doing here, what we’re proving is it’s working.”
### Targeted Improvement
LAUSD particularly saw significant gains among English learners and students with disabilities, with results mirroring pre-pandemic figures. However, scores remain low: 10.7% of English learners met English standards and 8.9% in math for students with disabilities.
### 11th-Grade Scores
11th-grade students, currently graduating, showed 49.6% proficiency in English and 21.4% in math, significantly lagging behind statewide averages.
### Conversation with Experts
Stanford Professor Thomas S. Dee suggested that the growth might be attributed to compositional changes; younger families were more likely to move or pull their students out of public schools during the pandemic. USC Professor Morgan Polikoff highlighted that while progress is encouraging, there’s still much to be done, especially compared to statewide averages.
### Conclusions
Los Angeles public school students’ progress in math and English may indicate promise, but more work lies ahead. Proficiency rates remain low, and disparities persist. As the Department of Education’s Smarter Balanced assessments continue to shape the educational landscape, it is crucial to acknowledge that students’ growth, not proficiency rates, is crucial. The road ahead is long, and LAUSD must navigate a complex mix of challenges, including declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and governmental funding constraints.
### Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do LAUSD’s scores compare to the state’s?
A: According to the article, LAUSD’s scores bested statewide improvements in math and English, but their proficiency rates remain below the state average.
Q: What do student growth and proficiency rates indicate?
A: Student growth indicates progress over time, while proficiency rates measure whether students meet state standards for a given grade or subject.
Q: What are the challenges LAUSD faces going forward?
A: Declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and governmental funding constraints pose significant hurdles for the district.
Q: What should LAUSD focus on to address these challenges?
A: The article highlights the need for continued investment in intervention programs, along with a focus on addressing the proficiency gaps and improving overall academic performance.
