Charles Hoffman Elementary test scores surpass pre-pandemic test scores, indicating learning loss is being addressed and remedied successfully.
English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) Score Increases
CHE beats out County & State ELA Scores
Starting with ELA, we see CHE’s efforts paying off. Pre-pandemic, scores lagged behind County & State scores. Today, ELA scores have not only surpassed CHE’s pre-pandemic scores, but also exceed San Bernardino County & State scores (which have slipped from their pre-pandemic scores).
CHE ELA Scores Pre-Pandemic vs. Current
Not only have ELA scores improved from pre-pandemic scores vs. current scores, but the share of students exceeding standards has increased as well, indicating students are recovering well from COVID learning loss.
Mathematics Score Increases
CHE beats out County & State Math Scores
Pre-pandemic scores lagged behind County & State scores. But today, math scores have not only surpassed CHE’s pre-pandemic scores, but also exceed San Bernardino County & State math scores (which have slipped from their pre-pandemic scores).
CHE Math Scores Pre-Pandemic vs. Current
Not only have Math scores improved from pre-pandemic scores vs. current scores, but the share of students meeting and exceeding standards has increased as well, indicating students are recovering well from COVID learning loss.
How Did We Do It?
CHE serves as a model for improving test scores. Not only is there thoughtful analysis of scores and how we arrived at them, but there is genuine curiosity & collaboration amongst teachers, detailed plans on addressing achievement gaps, and action taken to introduce key interventions.
Some of the work that has gone into increasing scores includes, but is not limited to:
- Implementation of Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs) so students can regularly familiarize themselves with what standardized tests look like before they take them.
- Increased & improved Professional Learning Community (PLC) days so our staff can receive relevant, useful professional development.
- Making consistent our after school tutoring and summer school so students can have more opportunities to study, learn, and catch up on work.
- Introduction of ELOP after school program so students can enjoy enriching, fun, engaging curriculum such as robotics, nature, programming, etc.
- Increasing targeted interventions during the school day so students that need additional help receive it before falling behind further.
- Reducing chronic absenteeism by addressing root causes (down an additional 5% from the last year and looks like we’ll reduce it further this year), because students can’t test well if they aren’t in school regularly.
- Focusing on early reading comprehension as it is foundational across all subjects.
- Increasing mental health supports available to students. The district has partnered with local mental health nonprofits (Mountain Counseling & Training and Rim Family Services), integrated them into our schools, and also offers CareSolace to provide no cost 24/7 connections to mental health experts for students, staff, and their families.
- Increasing community engagement, because engaged community partners can improve student outcomes. A great example of this is the district’s work to bring senior citizen groups into classes for reading programs!
- Finding & addressing vertical articulation gaps so we can ensure that as students move from one grade to another or one school to another, that standards & curriculum are consistent and build on top of what was previously taught.
- Making meals universal and transforming the nutritious meals we deliver, including bringing in fresh fruits & vegetables from local farms in SoCal. Because students who don’t eat, can’t perform their best.
What’s Next?
This is just some of what the district has done to increase test scores & improve student outcomes. We will see the effects of this work continue and are working on even more great things such as bringing preschool to our families and bringing back adult education. Have an idea to enhance student outcomes even further? Reach out to me and let’s talk!