Students across Victor Valley Union High School District have posted gains for a third consecutive year in the percentage scoring advanced or proficient in English language arts, math and science, according to newly released state assessment data. The district also reported an A-G course completion rate above 60%.
The district, based in Victorville, saw its percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards in all three subjects rise again this year, continuing a trend that officials have tracked since 2022, as reported by Victorville Daily Press. Since 2022, the share of VVUHSD students meeting or exceeding state standards has climbed nearly 7 percentage points in English, 6.5 points in math and 6 points in science, according to vvng.com.
Superintendent Carl Coles credited the district's educators and students for the sustained improvement. “Our students and staff continue to demonstrate remarkable dedication and effort, and these results reflect the culture of excellence we are building together,” Coles said, according to the Victorville Daily Press. He added, “It is a testament to the hard work happening in our classrooms every single day.”
College-Readiness Numbers Reach New Highs
Beyond test scores, the district reported that its students have reached what it called unprecedented levels of college readiness, per the Victorville Daily Press. The district's A-G coursework completion rate, which determines eligibility for University of California and California State University admission, came in at just over 60% for the Class of 2026, the same outlet reported.
That figure builds on a steady climb in recent years. The district's A-G completion rate rose 5 percentage points from the previous year and more than 16 points since 2023, the vvng.com report noted. That earlier report put the prior year's completion rate at 52.1%, while the district's own superintendent's message describes roughly 60% of graduates completing A-G coursework; the two figures come from different points in the district's reporting and were not reconciled in available district materials.
The district also pointed to broader gains beyond test scores and coursework, noting increases in attendance and decreases in suspensions among the metrics it tracks, according to vvng.com. VVUHSD serves nearly 12,000 students in grades 7 through 12, per the same report.
Cal State San Bernardino Applications Increase
A key driver behind the college-readiness push has been a partnership the district struck with California State University, San Bernardino, which provides guaranteed admission opportunities for students who complete A-G requirements. Since that agreement took effect, applications to the university jumped from 386 students to nearly 600 in a single year, the district's superintendent's message states.
The surge in applications has made VVUHSD the district with the highest percentage of students applying to CSUSB of any district in the county, per vvng.com's reporting. The district also said it ranks among the top five districts in San Bernardino County for A-G completion.
District officials said the Class of 2026 included graduates accepted to a range of universities, including Yale, UCLA and UC Berkeley, though the number of students admitted to each school was not specified. VVUHSD's test scores have been among the highest in the High Desert in English, math and science for three years running, and the district described its current A-G rate as an all-time high that puts it at the top of the list for college readiness in the region, according to the superintendent's message.
The Smarter Balanced assessments are part of the state's CAASPP testing program.
