Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Shows Significant Academic Progress

State results confirm districtwide progress and measurable improvements for historically underserved students

State-released 2024-2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) results show Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) making significant academic progress, with ELA achievement rising, mathematics showing meaningful upward movement, and fewer students scoring at Level 1, the lowest performance band, in both subjects.
“We are encouraged by this progress and confirms one of MPUSD’s tenets of powerful teaching and learning,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. “It’s a reflection of the dedication of our students, families, and educators, and a sign that MPUSD is moving in the right direction for all learners.”

Overall Districtwide Results

• English Language Arts Increased: ELA outcomes for all grade levels (3-8, 11) increased from 38.89% to 41.57% Met or Exceeded standards.
  
• Math Increased: Math outcomes for all grade levels increased from 24.11% to 27.43% Met or Exceeded.
  
• Fewer Students Significantly Behind: Level 1 decreased in both ELA and Math, signaling fewer students are significantly behind grade level.
  
• Science Increased: MPUSD increased from 22.80% to 24.76% of students meeting or exceeding the Science standards on the California Science Test (CAST), showing overall improvement for 5th, 8th, and HS testing grades. 
  
• Science Standards Nearly Met: 58.38% of students are now in Level 2 (“Standard Nearly Met”) on the CAST, a strong indicator that a large portion of students are within reach of proficiency with the right instructional support.
  
• Outperformed: MPUSD outperformed similar demographic unified districts and narrowed its gap with the California state average

Notable Student Growth

• Grade 3 showed districtwide movement, including gains for All Students, African American students, and English Learners in both English Language Arts and Math, reinforcing the positive impact of MPUSD’s early learning and literacy efforts.
  
• African American students made double-digit gains in English Language Arts across multiple grades, including 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th, signifying real movement in closing opportunity gaps and improving outcomes for historically underserved students.
  
• English Learners improved from 7% to 15% in Grade 3 English Language Arts (+8 points) and from 9% to 18% in Grade 3 Math (+9 points), reinforcing the impact of MPUSD’s early literacy, language development, and grade-level access strategies.
  
• Grade 8 English Language Arts increased 10 percentage points, and Grade 6 Math increased 10 percentage points, signaling progress is extending beyond primary grades, emphasizing the impact of ensuring that adolescents have access to daily grade-level instruction coupled with strong academic intervention.

“This growth is not accidental. It is the result of intentional system design,” said Cresta McIntosh, Associate Superintendent, Educational Services, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. “We have invested in high-quality instructional materials, ensured grade-level access for every student, and strengthened early learning access and foundations at every site. We are seeing the impact and we are committed to accelerating it.”

MPUSD will continue to prioritize literacy, mathematics, multilingual learner success, and student belonging as it builds on this trajectory.

MPUSD Online | www.mpusd.k12.ca.us