Common Core report card for valley districts

We’ve got the report card on how Valley schools fared with the new Common Core curriculum. The test scores show some districts are doing better than others, but there is a lot of room for improvement.

This is the first time districts get to see how the new curriculum is working in their schools. So far there is mixed reaction on how well it’s doing.

“I think it’s pretty horrible that our scores are that low,” said Palm Springs parent Dawn Melton.

“I think we’re going to get it and will just keep trying,” said Palm Springs parent Camille Hampton.

Students in grades three through seven and high school juniors took student performance tests last spring. Now the results are in.

Riverside County ranked 7th among the state’s 11th largest counties in English with 41 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards and ranked 8th in math with 28 percent of students meeting or exceeding the standard.

Only one of the valley’s school districts compared to the county’s numbers, Desert Sand Unified School District. It had 45 percent of students meeting or exceeding standard for English and 28 percent in math.

Palm Springs Unified School District had 32 percent of students meeting or exceeding standard for in English, and 20 percent in math.

Coachella Valley Unified School District had 18 percent of students meeting or exceeding standard in English and 11 percent in math.

“I think it’s sad I think we are going to have to do some free tutoring or try to get the parents more involved; maybe we are not doing enough there,” said Palm Springs resident Rosa Burks.

“It is sobering that we need to reevaluate the Common Core,” said Melton.

Jim Feffer, director of assessment and data analysis for PSUSD said these test scores are just a starting point.

“It’s going to take a couple of cycles for us to see which instructional changes and which systems in place move those numbers forward in a highly effective way,” said Feffer.

PSUSD, like many districts, has been implementing the new Common Core standard the past couple of years. Feffer said it will take time to see the standards reflected in the test scores.

“The bar has been raised, in the STAR performance days it was minimum grade level proficiency and now it’s moved forward to collage and career readiness at every grade level. It’s a pretty drastic change in expectations,” said Feffer.

“I believe in the schools my children attend. I think that eventually we will get there,” said Hampton.

Palm Springs said parents will start receiving their child’s individual scores in the mail over the next several weeks.

For a full breakdown of each district click here.

Coachella Valley Unified School District provided us this statement about the test scores:

“This transformation is a Marathon and not a Sprint. We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to prepare our students for College, Career and Citizenship, and a brighter future. Now is the time for all hands on deck, as it will take all of us to participate; Not only teachers, principals and support staff, but parents, elected leaders and community members as a whole.

We too ask for your patience and your participation to eliminate the achievement gaps that continue to create columns of haves and havenots.In the Coachella Valley Unified School District, we see these results not as challenges but as opportunities to continue our transformation and dedication to equity and access to a holistic education that truly prepares students for College, Career and Citizenship!”

— Dr. Darryl Adams, Superintendent of Schools