22 Nov District Considers Impact of Curriculum, Conditions on Student Success

(Image courtesy of West Contra Costa Unified School District via Bay City News)

By Samantha Kennedy

Student achievement is slowly rising in the West Contra Costa Unified School District for some student groups while most others struggle, and district officials have ambitious plans for the coming years — they’re shooting for a 3% increase in test scores per year. 

According to the most recent California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance, or CAASPP, data, a majority of district students don’t meet standards for their grade level, with only 32.5% meeting or exceeding English standards and only 23.3% in mathematics. 

But since 2022, English and math scores from CAASPP have risen by over 3% for third graders.

Some individual school sites made even bigger jumps between 2023 and 2024. Shannon Elementary School in Pinole had double-digit increases in English and math achievement, and Nystrom Elementary in Richmond had an almost 8% increase in English achievement. 

Shannon Elementary principal Jennifer Gulick, speaking at Wednesday’s school board meeting, attributed the achievement growth to the school’s culture, curriculum associated with the learning software, Zearn, and “the intentionality” of using data from individualized assessments like i-Ready.

“I truly believe that when educators are passionate about their school environment, it creates a ripple effect,” said Gulick. 

To continue achievement, Gulick said the school is offering tutoring for math and implementing a sitewide use of Zearn. 

Nystrom’s principal, James Allardice, said that increasing teacher capacity and using data to make adjustments were some of the site’s growth strategies. 

And, when asked by Trustee Demetrio Gonzalez-Hoy what their biggest recommendation was, Allardice and Gulick agreed: prioritizing instruction and curriculum. 

“We know that when we provide the same high-quality education at Shannon, at Nystrom, at any other school,” said interim associate superintendent Katherine Acosta-Verprauskus, “then we are going to be able to more intentionally make growth as a district.” 

In total, 14 schools increased their English achievement by over 3% and 11 in math.

Stege Elementary, which was relocated to the DeJean Middle School campus while undergoing renovations for safety issues, had the second-highest increase in math performance since 2023. 

Trustee Mister Phillips acknowledged the growth by Stege students despite the site’s conditions, adding that they should have been invited to speak to the board. Allardice and Gulick’s appearance on behalf of their schools at Wednesday’s meeting was to “spotlight two schools with promising growth,” according to the staff report. 

Phillips asked Acosta-Verprauskus, Superintendent Kenneth “Chris” Hurst and acting associate superintendent of facilities Melissa Payne if they thought facility conditions impact educational outcomes. 

“I believe high-quality instruction happening in classrooms, led by site leaders who are very intentional and teachers who are very intentional is what changes what we are here to provide, which is high, rigorous instruction,” said Acosta-Verprauskus, “so no.” 

“I’ve been in facilities just like Stege …in other districts, and it boils down to curriculum and instruction,” said Hurst. 

“Every time we touch a building or a site, we have the opportunity to improve learning,” said Payne. 

Stege Elementary, which has the highest percentage of Black students among schools in the district, has for years had community members who feel ignored by the district. 

About 60% of Black students did not meet English standards, according to CAASPP data from 2024. But, since 2022, math scores for Black students in seventh grade have increased by over 5%. 

Other student groups, such as those who are Native American or are foster youth, saw large decreases in achievement. Native American students, for example, had a 14% decrease in English scores. 

The next West Contra Costa school board meeting is on Dec. 4.