2023-24 academic report shows drop in STAAR scores
The report provided the most recent district STAAR, or State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, data for math, reading/language arts, science and social studies.
The scores included Algebra I and third through eighth-grade math; English I, English II and third through eighth-grade reading; Biology and fifth and eighth-grade science; and U.S. History and eighth-grade social studies.
Scores are broken down into approaches grade level, meets grade level and masters grade level, indicating the level of student comprehension. According to the results across all four subjects from spring 2023 to spring 2024:
- Math scores dropped between 1-4 percentage points.
- Reading/language arts ‘approaches’ scores dropped by two percentage points, while ‘masters’ increased by two percentage points. ‘Meets’ remained the same.
- Science scores dropped between 5-8 percentage points.
- Social studies scores dropped between 2-3 percentage points.
Olivarez said some of the district’s strategies for its academic improvement efforts include professional learning opportunities such as elementary math and reading professional development for teachers, and continuing to develop Exemplars lessons, which provide best practices for lesson plans.
Enrollment up, teacher and aide vacancies down
Per the administration report, there were 62 first-day-of-school teacher vacancies during the 2023-24 school year. For the 2024-25 school year, that number dropped to 26.
There were also 54 first-day teacher aide vacancies last year. This year, there were only 28.
District enrollment has also “exceeded budgeted projections,” which could result in increased funding.
“As attendance plays a critical role in revenue generation, district leadership will continue to closely monitor student attendance patterns to ensure sustained financial benefits and identify areas for further improvement in student engagement,” officials stated in the report.
Strategic plan task force to kick off
The district is working on creating a visioning task force to guide its strategic plan. Per the administrative report, the task force will have 50-60 participants, including board members, district staff, parents, students, and other community members.
An online signup form will be posted on the district website and shared through district communication channels. The task force will meet in the evenings twice a month through January to provide a draft of the strategic plan to the board in the spring.
Pflugerville Education Foundation invests thousands into the district
The PEF released its 2023-24 year-in-review report Sept. 19. Last school year, the foundation raised $454,391 and invested $233,248 into the district, which included:
- $20,000 donated to implement campus initiatives
- $31,000 awarded in student scholarships
- $34,000 donated to new teachers
- $80,000 donated to fund grants
The district’s operations team is already preparing the list of bond projects to work on next summer. Per the administration report, the team has identified four critical categories to work on:
- Safety and security projects, which include impact film, access control and intrusion detection on campuses
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning projects at Northwest, Wieland and Windermere Elementary Schools; Kelly Lane Middle School; Provan Opportunity Center; and Hendrickson High School
- Campus renovations for Rowe Lane Elementary; Dessau, Kelly Lane and Pflugerville Middle Schools; and Connally High School
- Technology projects, including projector and computer replacements
