Modesto City Schools on a Mission
Casey Peterson recognized a concerning trend when he began working in Modesto as an intervention specialist with struggling students. When ninth graders struggled at the beginning of their high school career, their challenges continued and compounded in subsequent years.
Now, as a participant in Modesto’s California Education Partners On Track Improvement Team, Peterson has time and space to slow down and talk with colleagues about what is really happening at their school. The math and ELA departments across school sites—with similar teams spanning four high schools, multiple middle schools, and even neighboring Empire’s middle school— are aligning efforts across the system to create lasting change for students.
The district’s north star is clear: increase and sustain academic achievement and equitable access so that all students are prepared for their future. This means supporting students through critical transitions—especially from middle to high school—while equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and character traits to thrive and contribute to society.
Across California, only 52% of public high school graduates currently qualify for admission to the state’s four-year universities. For Latinx and African American students, the numbers drop even further, to 45% and 43%. In Modesto, just 40.5% of students meet the A–G requirements—an improvement from 35%, but still a pressing call to action.
Modesto’s improvement teams are addressing the problem where it matters most: 8th and 9th grade. By creating strong foundations early in high school, students build the academic momentum they need for long-term success.
Modesto’s On-Track Improvement team is:
- Monitoring student grade outcomes to quickly identify where support is needed.
- Embedding reteaching practices and standards-aligned expectations to keep students on track.
- Implementing grading practices that reinforce learning and growth.
These strategies don’t happen in isolation. Middle and high schools are collaborating closely, sharing practices, and coordinating efforts across the district. A multi-year focus on strengthening the instructional core and professional learning communities (PLCs) has laid the groundwork for consistency and clarity.
New grading pilots and policies are now being rolled out across the district, ensuring fairness and alignment. The district has also introduced Map Your Mission, a powerful initiative that helps educators, students, and families understand and connect with the long-term vision of college and career readiness.
What stands out when speaking with Casey and other members of the Modesto team is the sense of shared purpose. From classrooms to district offices, Modesto educators are working in parallel, regularly collaborating, and staying focused on one promise: that every student has the opportunity to graduate ready to succeed.