From the Principal
Dear Families, Teachers, and Staff,
Welcome to the 2025-26 school year!
I am proud to start my 5th year as the Principal here at Kentwood Elementary. What makes our community thrive is communication, assuming positive intentions, believing in redemption, and being your authentic self. These principles help us build strong relationships with families, students, teachers, staff, and community partners. Our charge as educators is to deliver a standards-driven curriculum, make data-informed decisions, and maintain high expectations for all students.
I am proud to share the remarkable academic achievements of our students over the past year. Based on our previous year’s growth, we earned the coveted California Distinguished School Award. This year, we saw significant improvements again across all content areas, with students meeting and exceeding the targeted 3% growth in test scores. Here are some highlights:
CAASPP Assessment Results:
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Students in grades 3-5 demonstrated a 3% increase in ELA and an 8% increase in Math.
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Collectively, 82% of students are performing at or above benchmark in ELA, and 81% in Math.
DIBELS - Foundational Reading Skills:
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In grades K-2, reading proficiency improved by 15%, with 78% of students reaching or surpassing the benchmark.
These accomplishments reflect the unwavering dedication and hard work of our students, teachers, staff, and families. Additionally, we have seen a substantial reduction in chronic absenteeism, from 14% to 7%, indicating increased student engagement and readiness to take agency over their education.
We're also excited to welcome new students as enrollment continues to rise, along with new teachers and staff who bring fresh energy and expertise to our team.
As we embark on this annual journey together, my door is always open, and I welcome your input. Please feel free to call or email me if you have any concerns throughout the school year. I am excited to see your happy faces and look forward to continuing to build the transparent and collaborative school community where everyone can grow and thrive.
Here’s to another successful year ahead, building on the momentum of our fantastic community and continuous achievements!
Warm regards,
