Visalia Unified Releases First Report on Student Achievement and Academic Growth

VISALIA, CA — Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) released its first Priority Student Outcomes report on Saturday, Jan. 17, marking a new effort by district officials to be more open about how students are performing.

The report uses data from the 2025 California Dashboard, which is the state’s official website for tracking school performance. The figures show district-wide academic growth in core subjects, with English Language Arts (ELA) scores rising by 9.3 points and Mathematics scores increasing by 5.9 points.

Specific student groups showed notable progress in literacy according to the report. ELA scores for Hispanic students rose by 10 points, while scores for students with disabilities increased by 12.6 points.

Despite these improvements, VUSD officials noted that the district still performs below California state standards in both math and literacy.

New Standards for Success

The report is part of a broader school board strategy to meet the goals of its five-year plan. The board has introduced local ways to measure success that go beyond standardized testing, focusing on literacy growth in all grades as well as preparation for college and future careers.

The district’s new approach also considers non-academic factors to provide a more complete picture of the student experience. These factors include how safe students feel, whether they feel a sense of belonging at school, and their involvement in extracurricular activities.

Ongoing Monitoring

Superintendent Kirk Shrum said the district will use the findings to identify areas where progress has not met expectations. Shrum noted that officials will analyze the data and "revamp" teaching methods where necessary to ensure continued improvement.

To maintain oversight, district officials plan to monitor these student progress markers every three months. The data will be formally presented to the Board of Education twice per year.

Full details on the district’s performance are available on the California School Dashboard at https://caschooldashboard.org/reports/54722560000000/2025.