Academic Excellence

On the one hand, standing next to the state and nation our academic achievement is strong. In 2022, D-20 was accredited with distinction by the state board of education. 2021-2022 standardized testing showed at least 70% of students to be proficient in math and 80% to be proficient in English-Language Arts. This is a miraculous achievement for the district given that in 2019, CMAS testing showed those numbers to be in the 50s and 60s for some grade levels.

At the same time, good is the enemy of great. And while the district is moving in the right direction, it cannot take its foot off the gas. Earlier this year, a committee tasked with revising the district’s strategic plan would have radically displaced academics as a focus in the district. Advocates for D-20 Kids collected about 300 petition signatures opposing the strategic plan as written. Thanks to pushback from the community and the school board later revisions put much of the focus back on academics. 

The current board majority campaigned on a promise to improve academics in the district. Our kids deserve nothing less than the best education the district can offer. A year in, the board has delivered on that mandate and must continue to do so.