Spotlight California Schools

Compton Unified School District took a data-driven approach to improve college and career readiness among its African American students. By looking at key data metrics, CUSD identified strategies to provide students and families with increased access to information, resources, and supports to navigate the academic, social, and financial aspects of the college preparation process.

Da Vinci Schools cultivates an inclusive learning environment that prioritizes relationships and promotes real-world learning to prepare students for college, career, and life. However, it is their ability to gather and effectively use data that maximizes their impact on teaching and learning — ensuring students thrive as lifelong learners.

Districts across California are developing graduate profiles to more equitably and holistically redefine student success, transforming how they support students in developing the skills, competencies, and mindsets needed to thrive in college, career, and life. 

By empowering students to own their educational journey and actively engage with their data, Hope Elementary School District is nurturing a community of lifelong learners and fostering a brighter future for all.

Los Angeles USD launched its Black Student Achievement Plan, a comprehensive initiative that aims to address the need for culturally responsive curriculum and instruction, community-based partnerships within the Black community, and increased staffing to support the academic and social-emotional needs of Black students.

Getting the right data, in the right hands, at the right time is the goal of San Bernardino County Superintendent of School’s (SBCSS) Local Assessment Project. Local assessment data plays a key role, but only if it is actually used to improve teaching and learning.

Explore how Anaheim Unified High School District is setting new standards in student engagement and success through innovative and inclusive practices. This spotlight highlights their commitment to personalized learning, holistic support, and strong community engagement, making a significant impact on student outcomes.

Rincon Valley USD focuses on formative assessment and mathematical learning progressions to answer three questions: 1) Where are our learners? 2) Where do we want them to be? 3) How do we get them there?

To tackle an intricate problem such as chronic absenteeism, Fresno Unified School District took a multilayered and holistic approach that included strong and committed district leadership, a cross-functional team of diverse staff, strong data principles, and partnerships with community-based organizations.

Ontario-Montclair School District worked to engage parents as authentic partners in the school community by empowering them with tools and resources that allow them to advocate for their children’s learning.

Miwok Middle School, located in Sacramento City USD, harnessed the power of student survey data to cultivate a culture of belonging and connectedness — with an explicit focus on equity.

Cypress School District is a positive outlier in the current chronic absenteeism crisis, with chronic absence rates 13 points lower versus the state. Through a systemic approach, the district builds trusting relationships with students and families and promotes a culture of support to help them overcome barriers to attendance.

Kings Canyon Unified School District has cultivated a culture of trust and support that permeates every level of its system, serving as a cornerstone for promoting student attendance. By actively seeking parental input and fostering opportunities for family involvement, the district strengthens its partnership with parents. Simultaneously, a focus on students’ socioemotional well-being ensures that trust and support are integral to the student experience, contributing to their overall success.

Livingston Union School District integrates health and wellness into its broader strategy to improve student attendance. By providing consistent health guidance, supporting mental well-being, and fostering strong relationships with families, the district creates a culture of care that encourages students to show up and thrive. Through daily check-ins, accessible health staff, and family engagement, Livingston ensures students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Anaheim Union High School District took a systemic approach to support families’ needs by empowering parents, authentically engaging students, and strengthening community partnerships to address the root causes of disengagement.

Cajon Valley Unified School District embraced its multicultural and multiethnic district composition, leveraging its diversity to serve all community members and improve its community outreach and engagement with “families in need.” 

Federal Terrace Elementary School participated in CCEE’s Intensive Assistance Model Project, receiving intensive onsite support from Solution Tree to redefine collaboration and transform their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).

Lost Hills UESD leveraged community schools as a catalyst for collaboration among neighboring small districts, focusing on shared learning and resource pooling to enhance student outcomes.

Oxnard School District utilized the California Family Engagement Framework and recommendations from research in their efforts to systematize family engagement and empower parents in shared design-making processes to impact student learning.

Napa County Office of Education concentrated their efforts on establishing meaningful partnerships and innovative approaches to learning, practicing continuous improvement strategies, and leveraging data and improvement science to guide decision-making.

Salinas City Elementary School District improves attendance practices at all school sites by using data to drive collaboration, critical reflection, and action. 

Fresno County Superintendent of Schools took a multi-tiered approach to provide comprehensive LCAP and compliance support that meets the individual needs of each LEA. 

To recruit and retain a teaching workforce that better reflects their student population, Pittsburg Unified School District employed a multi-pronged set of strategies anchored around collecting input and feedback from the broader school community, grounded in data, and focused on creating an inviting culture that celebrates the community and the students they serve. 

California school communities have begun experiencing shifts in our climate that have led to extreme precipitation and storm based flooding, which is bringing new emergency concerns for many school communities. As schools have begun to understand this imperative, more and more school districts have begun to adapt to these challenges by either capturing water on site, or slowing and filtering stormwater into groundwater systems. This story features the San Carlos School District and their partnership with the county agency, “Flows to Bay” to mitigate and prepare for storm based flooding.

California’s school communities have begun experiencing the impacts of climate change, including physical damage to buildings and infrastructure, disruptions to learning including student absences, and emotional trauma. To help schools navigate these impacts and be more climate-ready, the San Mateo County Office of Education has incorporated climate adaptation into its emergency planning and response protocols and developed tools and resources that can be customized and adapted for local education agencies.  

Santa Barbara USD (SBUSD) is located in a grid-vulnerable area of California, prone to wildfires, mudslides, and earthquakes. To improve resilience, SBUSD partnered with the CLEAN Coalition, Sage Renewable Energy Consulting, and Engie to install solar panels on 14 campuses and microgrid systems at six campuses. These microgrids, made of linked solar panels and energy storage, can operate independently from the main grid during outages, ensuring continuous power. The system also supports load shifting, saving on energy costs. This initiative not only enhances SBUSD's emergency preparedness but is projected to save $14 million in electricity costs over 28 years.