In a recent government meeting, the leadership of the DBHCSD celebrated a historic achievement: the district has earned a five-star rating across all performance components for the first time ever. This accolade places DBHCSD among just 18 districts out of 607 statewide that achieved this level of excellence, highlighting significant progress in areas such as achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation, and early literacy.

The district's overall student population remains stable at around 3,600, but notable improvements were reported in attendance, with chronic absenteeism dropping from 15% to 11.2%. This positive trend is attributed to collaborative efforts among school administration, counselors, and parents.

The meeting also addressed the performance of individual schools. The elementary school improved its rating from four to five stars, while the high school maintained its five-star status for the second consecutive year. The middle school also performed well, with ratings that place it among the top tier of middle schools in the state.

A key focus of the discussion was the performance index, which has shown a steady increase over the past five years, now reaching 106.8. This index serves as a critical measure of student mastery of state standards. The district's math scores were particularly impressive, with 7.3% of students taking advanced tests, indicating a strong emphasis on advanced coursework.

Despite these successes, the meeting acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in English Language Arts (ELA) growth, where the district earned only one point out of a possible eight. The leadership emphasized the need to address achievement gaps among various student subgroups, particularly economically disadvantaged students and those with disabilities.

Graduation rates remain strong at 96.5%, but the district is committed to ensuring that all subgroups achieve similar success. The meeting concluded with a call to action to maintain momentum and continue identifying and supporting gifted students, particularly from underrepresented groups.

Overall, the meeting underscored a commitment to educational excellence and equity, celebrating achievements while recognizing the ongoing work needed to support all students in the district.