Kelso Sch. Dist.

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News Release

Kelso Students Among Nation's Fastest Improving Readers: Reading Growth Ranks In Top 15% Nationwide - 06/25/26

Kelso School District has been recognized as a "District on the Rise" for reading achievement by Education Scorecard, a national research initiative led by researchers at Harvard and Stanford Universities. The designation highlights districts whose student achievement has improved significantly more than closely matched peer districts since the pandemic.

 

The recognition comes as student achievement growth has remained largely flat across Washington state. While statewide average test scores have shown little improvement since 2022, Kelso students have demonstrated accelerated growth in both reading and mathematics.

 

According to the report, Kelso's reading achievement increased by approximately one-quarter of a grade level between 2022 and 2025, placing the district in the 87th percentile nationally for reading growth. During the same period, Kelso students gained approximately 0.65 grade levels in mathematics. Together, Kelso students averaged 1.13 years of learning growth per year, exceeding both the Washington state average of 0.98 years and the national average of 0.96 years.

 

"Being named a 'District on the Rise' matters because it is really about students learning at higher levels," said Superintendent Mary Beth Tack. "Our students are making significant gains in reading and math, and that translates into more opportunities and brighter futures."

 

District leaders believe the recognition reflects years of focused and intentional work to improve student outcomes following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

"We made a commitment we would not simply recover, we would improve," Tack said. "We stayed focused on what matters most, remained disciplined in our approach, and continued the strategic investment in what we knew would make a difference for students."

 

Kelso attributes its academic growth to four key districtwide investments:

  • Early Learning – Expanded preschool and Transition to Kindergarten opportunities help ensure students enter school ready to learn and reduce learning gaps before kindergarten.
  • Social-Emotional Learning – Elementary students receive daily social-emotional learning instruction designed to help them feel safe, connected, and ready to engage in learning.
  • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) – Kelso educators collaborate around essential learning standards, common assessments, and timely interventions to ensure every student receives high-quality instruction and support.
  • Science of Reading – The district has maintained a long-term commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction, including explicit teaching of foundational reading skills, language development, and comprehension strategies.

"When strong systems come together, strong outcomes follow," Tack said. "This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our entire district team and the extraordinary work happening in classrooms every single day."

 

District leaders emphasize that while the recognition is encouraging, it is not a finish line.

 

"We are proud of this progress, but we know our work is not done," Tack said. "Our scores are improving, yet we remain focused on helping every student reach their full potential. This recognition tells us we're moving in the right direction, and we're committed to building on that momentum."

 

The district's long-term goal remains unchanged: ensuring 100% of Kelso students graduate prepared for their next step, whether that is a two-year college, four-year university, apprenticeship, military service, or career pathway.

 

"Districts don't rise—students do," Tack said. "This recognition tells us our students are rising, our staff are making a difference, and our community should be proud of what we're accomplishing together."

 

About the Education Scorecard
The Education Scorecard is a collaborative project led by researchers from Harvard University and Stanford University that tracks student academic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The project analyzes student achievement data from districts across the United States and identifies districts demonstrating exceptional academic growth compared to similar peer districts.

 

About Kelso School District

Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.

Kelso Students Among Nation's Fastest Improving Readers: Reading Growth Ranks In Top 15% Nationwide - 06/25/26

Kelso School District has been recognized as a "District on the Rise" for reading achievement by Education Scorecard, a national research initiative led by researchers at Harvard and Stanford Universities. The designation highlights districts whose student achievement has improved significantly more than closely matched peer districts since the pandemic.

 

The recognition comes as student achievement growth has remained largely flat across Washington state. While statewide average test scores have shown little improvement since 2022, Kelso students have demonstrated accelerated growth in both reading and mathematics.

 

According to the report, Kelso's reading achievement increased by approximately one-quarter of a grade level between 2022 and 2025, placing the district in the 87th percentile nationally for reading growth. During the same period, Kelso students gained approximately 0.65 grade levels in mathematics. Together, Kelso students averaged 1.13 years of learning growth per year, exceeding both the Washington state average of 0.98 years and the national average of 0.96 years.

 

"Being named a 'District on the Rise' matters because it is really about students learning at higher levels," said Superintendent Mary Beth Tack. "Our students are making significant gains in reading and math, and that translates into more opportunities and brighter futures."

 

District leaders believe the recognition reflects years of focused and intentional work to improve student outcomes following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

"We made a commitment we would not simply recover, we would improve," Tack said. "We stayed focused on what matters most, remained disciplined in our approach, and continued the strategic investment in what we knew would make a difference for students."

 

Kelso attributes its academic growth to four key districtwide investments:

  • Early Learning – Expanded preschool and Transition to Kindergarten opportunities help ensure students enter school ready to learn and reduce learning gaps before kindergarten.
  • Social-Emotional Learning – Elementary students receive daily social-emotional learning instruction designed to help them feel safe, connected, and ready to engage in learning.
  • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) – Kelso educators collaborate around essential learning standards, common assessments, and timely interventions to ensure every student receives high-quality instruction and support.
  • Science of Reading – The district has maintained a long-term commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction, including explicit teaching of foundational reading skills, language development, and comprehension strategies.

"When strong systems come together, strong outcomes follow," Tack said. "This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our entire district team and the extraordinary work happening in classrooms every single day."

 

District leaders emphasize that while the recognition is encouraging, it is not a finish line.

 

"We are proud of this progress, but we know our work is not done," Tack said. "Our scores are improving, yet we remain focused on helping every student reach their full potential. This recognition tells us we're moving in the right direction, and we're committed to building on that momentum."

 

The district's long-term goal remains unchanged: ensuring 100% of Kelso students graduate prepared for their next step, whether that is a two-year college, four-year university, apprenticeship, military service, or career pathway.

 

"Districts don't rise—students do," Tack said. "This recognition tells us our students are rising, our staff are making a difference, and our community should be proud of what we're accomplishing together."

 

About the Education Scorecard
The Education Scorecard is a collaborative project led by researchers from Harvard University and Stanford University that tracks student academic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The project analyzes student achievement data from districts across the United States and identifies districts demonstrating exceptional academic growth compared to similar peer districts.

 

About Kelso School District

Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.