Thursday, October 1, 2026
Olympia School District students performed above the state average in English language arts and mathematics in the latest reporting period.
Members of the Olympia School District Board of Directors got a briefing on the Washington School Improvement Framework, which identifies how schools can improve education of all students.
Assessment & Accountability Director Billy Harris delivered the briefing at a work session on Dec. 2.
“All schools are in part of this framework. The framework uses three years of data, combined with multiple indicators, such as SBA (Smarter Balanced Assessments) proficiency, SBA growth, graduation rates, attendance, dual credit and grade on track,” Harris said.
Each student group of a school has a decile value (statistical measure) that must meet a threshold.
The data for the framework is always a year removed, and the work session used the most recent Washington School Improvement Framework data from 2023-24.
A school’s score, relative to the threshold, then determines the level of improvement funding and support from the state.
Data showed OSD consistently outperformed the state in both English language arts (ELA) and math.
Proficiency in ELA was 60.9%, compared with the state average of 50.90%. Proficiency in math was 48.1%, compared with the state average of 40.70%.
“We consistently and regularly outperform the state in ELA and mathematics when we look at those numbers,” Harris said.
The OSD Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) median student growth percentile was 54 in ELA and mathematics, while the state is always set at 50, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The district’s median Student Growth Percentile (SGP) declined slightly to 54 from 59 in ELA, and to 54 from 59 in math in the period covering 2014-24.
Each student receives a SGP ranking among their score peer group, and the median SGP is the middle student with all students from the same school across all peer groups.
Data from the Educational Research and Data Center also showed 49% of Olympia School District students enrolled in a four-year university after graduation.
Also, 87% of graduates persisted after the first year, including the ones enrolled in community colleges, and 52% of graduates earned a bachelor’s degree or higher within eight years.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Honestyandrealityguy
Better, but nationally we still suck!
Thursday, December 11, 2025 Report this
wellnow77
As a grandparent with children at Lincoln, Centennial, McLane and Washington, I am very pleased with Olympia School District. Would like to see the national statistics Honestyandrealityguy is referring too.
Friday, December 12, 2025 Report this
wellnow77
Curiosity led me to search our states education ranking nationwide. Per US NEWS - The State of Washington ranks #9 in the nation. So, no, we don't suck.
Friday, December 12, 2025 Report this
ILKendrick1
If my kids were still young, I would absolutely move into the OSD! I am new to the area, but I find this area to be just right for me and my kind!
Monday, December 15, 2025 Report this