Despite returning to pre-pandemic learning standards, the San Mateo Union High School District saw a downturn in California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test results in English and math in the 2022-23 school year, according to a presentation at the district Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, Sept. 28.

Between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, the aggregated CAASPP proficiency rates decreased by 4% in English and 2% in math districtwide, although still far exceeding the statewide average. 

There are also significant disparities in achievement between racial groups in both areas of the assessment.

“We need to continue to promote the value of these assessments for all of our students,” Director of Curriculum and Assessment Brian Simmons said. “Math continues to see significant differentials across [racial] subgroups, and those differentials are getting worse.”

Despite the year-over-year downturn, there was noticeable improvement across the board in the English area when compared to pre-pandemic years. Nevertheless, Latino and Pacific Islander students remain less proficient in English than their counterparts, and they are also at the bottom of the chart in the math portion of the assessment.

Conversely, proficiency rates increased by 40% in math and 21% in the English section among African-American students. 

In order to address the shortcomings evident in the standardized testing results, Simmons plans to implement numerous strategies, extending a literacy and language arts task force and implementing a parallel math intervention task force.

“The plan this year is to convene a math intervention task force to identify what the research says about math intervention at secondary schools and what we should be doing to implement those practices,” Simmons said.

In other news, the board officially recognized October as LGBTQIA+ history month. Mills High School sophomore Bianca May Santos, who helped draft the relevant proclamation, presented at the meeting as well.

Significant turning points in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights occurred in October, including the March on Washington and the Stonewall riots of the late 1960s, Santos emphasized. National Coming Out day is also celebrated in October.

“All students deserve to feel safe and welcome in their schools, to be known by their preferred name, gender identity, story, as well as to see themselves represented in the curriculum, “ Santos said.