Fresno Unified 2023 test scores show most students still not meeting standards

Fresno Unified School District, at its Wednesday school board meeting, previewed its 2023 state test scores

On the 2022-23 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP tests, 33.2% of Fresno Unified students met or exceeded English language arts standards, a 1% gain from the 21-22 school year.

In math, 23.3% met or exceeded state standards, a 2.5% increase.

The district’s students, overall, made minor gains, but most students are still not meeting state standards.

“Yes, we did have growth,” said Zerina Hargrove, the Fresno Unified assistant superintendent of research, evaluation and assessment. “But the facts are, overall, we had just as many students who slid backwards as (many students) who moved forward.”

The state accountability system calls for school districts to focus on the growth of every child at every performance band of not meeting standards, nearly meeting standards and meeting or exceeding standards, according to Hargrove.

To better student performance, the district must find ways to maintain and accelerate growth of students who meet the standards, Hargrove said, and address the needs of students not meeting standards at all.

“Every school is different. Every leader is different. Every community is different. And with those differences come different needs,” she said. “There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the why behind our current reality.”