October 28, 2022

Student assessment results released by the state,  Oct 28 
October 28,  2022  

Dear FCUSD Community:

The recent release of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) revealed that overall, student achievement across the state declined. See this data chart to search for Folsom Cordova Unified School District and Sacramento County school districts.

While FCUSD outperformed all other county districts, our students showed declines in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math performance by 3%, with unduplicated students demonstrating declines of 5 - 6%. However, some student groups showed increases. English language learners increased ELA performance by 2% and students with disabilities increased math performance by 1%.

No one in education wants to see declines and that includes FCUSD. We are, however, pleased that our test results outpaced districts in the county and the state. The fact that FCUSD was one of the first districts to return students to in-person instruction contributed to the direct instructional connections that supported learning success.

We also know that the high caliber of educational professionals and support staff at FCUSD carried student learning through the difficult months of the pandemic at the highest levels possible. The people behind these and other programs; our teachers, administrators, and staff who went the extra mile with long hours and heartfelt dedication to students, are why FCUSD continues to shine as a leader amongst school districts.

We take these test scores very seriously, and as we move forward, will use the data to address supports where there are gaps in learning. It is also important to remember that tests are only one measure, at one point in time, of student achievement. Social-emotional learning, skill-based learning, and extra-curricular activities are also factors for learning success. 

The pandemic created significant learning impacts at FCUSD. For many students - including every student in grades 3 through 5 -  these results represent the first time ever taking a standardized test. Some school sites experienced significant absences. We recognize that many learning challenges also existed prior to the pandemic. Considerable attention has been placed District-wide on Essential Standards, investment in Professional Learning Communities, and student interventions. FCUSD will continue moving forward with creative and robust strategies to address learning achievement so that all students will be empowered to thrive through educational excellence.