MPUSD Named One of Top Performing Districts in California Offering Saturday Academy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2024
Contact:
Marci McFadden, Chief of Communications & Engagement
831-706-6971
MPUSD Named One of Top Performing Districts in California Offering Saturday Academy
Seaside Middle School Top Performing Middle School in State; Monterey High School Ranks 3rd in State
Monterey, CA - The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District has proudly partnered with Education Consulting Services, Inc. and its AARC Saturday Academy Program to ensure students are positively engaged, safe, fed and connected when they are missing school since the 2016-2017 school year.
During the 2023-2024 school year, MPUSD was one of the top performing districts in California offering Saturday Academy. The district engaged 19,749 students, recovered more than 14,000 absences, and offered nearly 79,000 of instructional hours that students would not have otherwise received due to missing school during the regular school day.
2023-2024 Summary
- School Site Sessions: 316
- Program Attendance: 19,749
- Recoverable Absences: 14,547
- Attendance Recovery Rate: 73%
- Student to Teacher Ratio: 28:1
Seaside Middle School rose to the top as the highest performing middle school in the state by engaging 2,387 students at Saturday Academy last school year and Monterey High School ranked third in the state overall by engaging 5,206 students on Saturdays during the 2023-2024 school year. These rankings are significant as middle and high school students are less motivated to participate in Saturday programs.
“We love to see our students during the regular school day, but we acknowledge that illnesses and/or other circumstances beyond a student’s control may prevent them from attending school,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. “Offering Saturday Academy provides a service to our students so they don’t fall behind on instruction time, catch up on what they missed, and receive specialized attention from a staff member or teacher.”
“There is a misperception that this program is an alternative to discipline, when in fact it is an enriching and fun opportunity to support a student’s learning with credentialed teachers who offer engaging and inspiring lessons.”
Saturday Academy is an opportunity for students to not only make up for missed attendance at school and lost instruction time, but it is an opportunity for students and staff to build strong relationships and for students to receive a blend of academics and enrichment activities.
In the 2024-2025 school year, the district and its schools will continue to offer quality programming during Saturday Academy with the goal of optimizing and adding innovative opportunities. It will continue to offer free lunch.
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About Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is home to approximately 9,400 students in grades transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. The district also houses preschool and adult education. The district is built on a solid foundation of effective instruction, positive school culture, systems of support, and collaborative leadership. The district is nestled along the Monterey Bay, and stretches from the city of Marina to the north to the city of Monterey to the south, and includes the communities of Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Sand City and Seaside.