Opportunity gap persists at Sequoia Union

The state gathers annual data for standardized test scores, English learner progress, college and career readiness, graduation rates and suspension rates, among other metrics. 

For the Sequoia Union High School District, disparities are prevalent when analyzing graduation and suspension rates across the district’s schools. 

The overall graduation rate of students in the Sequoia Union High School District only went down by 0.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, with 90% of students graduating, but when divided by subgroups, a gap can be seen. 

English learners graduated at the lowest rate among students, at 69.8%, a decline of 1.5% from the year prior. The most significant decline was a 4.7% drop in the graduation of Black students, to 86.4%. Comparatively, across the state, English learners graduated at a 79.7% rate, and Black students graduated at a 82.6% rate.

While overall suspension rates maintained in frequency from the year prior, Black students were suspended at a rate of 9.1% or higher, an increase from the year prior. Further, suspensions of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students “increased significantly” from the year prior. 

Suspension rates are one of multiple measures for “school climate,” while graduation rates measure “pupil engagement” and standardized test scores measure “pupil achievement,” according to the California School Dashboard. 

If the California School Dashboard finds particularly concerning data in two or more of these categories from a district, it will be identified for Differentiated Assistance, a support service provided by the county’s Office of Education. The service looks to help districts address underlying causes that may have resulted in undesirable outcomes. 

In the district, concerning data for suspension rates and math scores among Black students will enlist the San Mateo County Office of Education to step in for some additional support, Wilmot said.

Math scores were a metric of concern among numerous subgroups throughout the district. 

Students tested at 16.6 points below standard in 2025, a decline of 10.1 points from the year prior, and most subgroups saw a decline or significant decline in scores. Throughout California, student test scores increased 5.2 points across the board, though still averaged at 42.4 points below standard.

The largest decline was recorded among Black students, who on average tested 117.3 points below standard, a decline of 41.9 points. Long-term English learners and students with disabilities also tested significantly below standard. 

English learners, Hispanic students and socioeconomically disadvantaged students also tested below standard in math, though these subgroups saw slight increases from the year prior. 

Although Asian and white students tested at 107.5 points and 62.2 points, respectively, above standard, both groups saw declines from the year prior. 

Board President Amy Koo questioned whether the downward trend in math scores, nearly across the board, was a result of a change in practice or sheer coincidence. 

Test scores for English averaged at 45.9 points above standard across the district, and improvements were particularly noted for English learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and Hispanic and Latino students. 

Both English learners and Long-term English learners are maintaining progress toward reclassification, Wilmot said. A particular standout program was noted at Redwood High School, which recorded between 55% and 64.9% of students progressing after a significant increase from the year prior. 

“Two years ago they were in the red,” Wilmot said, referring to the school's former low progress rates. 

Across schools and demographics, students in the Sequoia Union High School District are increasingly prepared for college or careers post graduation, according to the state dashboard.

Readiness increased 2.7% in 2025, and the upward trend rang true across every student subgroup. No group of students declined in their readiness for postgraduation in 2025.

Data was released Nov. 13, 2025, by the California Department of Education. Visit caschooldashboard.org for more information on district statistics.