At Murray City School District (MCSD), our foundational mission, “Every Student, Every Opportunity, Every Day,” is not just a slogan – it’s a promise. 

This unwavering commitment to our students is the driving force behind the Student Achievement priority within the Murray Board of Education’s new Five-Year Strategic Plan. We are setting ambitious goals to significantly elevate student progress and proficiency, ensuring every child in Murray receives a world-class education that prepares them for a successful future.

Our Vision for Elevated Learning

Our strategic plan outlines clear, measurable goals for student achievement by 2030, reflecting our dedication to continuous improvement and excellence. We are targeting substantial growth in core academic areas:

• Early Literacy and Numeracy: By 2030, we aim to increase the district percentage of students in grades K-3 (reading) and grades 1-3 (math) who make typical or better progress by 10%, as measured by the Acadience end-of-year (EOY) assessment Pathway of Progress. Specifically, we we have set a target to increase reading proficiency for these grades from 63% in 2026 to 73% in 2030, and in math from 60% to 70% over the same period. This focus on early grades is crucial, as strong foundational skills are key predictors of future academic success. The Acadience Pathway of Progress system provides a robust, research-based method for tracking individual student growth relative to their peers, allowing us to tailor interventions and celebrate progress effectively (Acadience Learning, n.d.a; Acadience Learning, n.d.b).
• Grade Level Reading Proficiency: We are committed to ensuring more of our youngest learners are reading at grade level. Our goal is to increase the district percentage of students in grade 3 reading at grade level by 10% by 2030, as measured by Acadience. Our target is from 67% in 2026 to 77% in 2030.
• Core Subject Proficiency (Grades 3-10): Across elementary and secondary levels, we aim to increase the percentage of students in grades 3-10 achieving proficiency in Math, Language Arts, and Science by at least 10% by 2030, as measured by end-of-level state assessments. This translates to projected increases from 46% to 56% in Reading, 47% to 57% in Math, and 51% to 61% in Science between 2026 and 2030. These gains will ensure our students are mastering essential content knowledge and critical thinking skills across the curriculum.
• College and Career Readiness: Beyond foundational academics, we are preparing our students for their post-graduation pathways. We aim to increase the percentage of students who meet College and Career Readiness benchmarks by at least 5% by 2030, as measured by ACT scores, graduation rates, and readiness coursework. Our targets include raising the percentage of students meeting ACT benchmarks from 62% to 66%, increasing our graduation rate from 85% to 89%, and boosting readiness coursework completion from 79% to 83% by 2030. This aligns directly with Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate, which emphasizes characteristics like Academic Mastery, Critical Thinking, and Lifelong Learning to prepare students for success in an ever-evolving world (Utah State Board of Education, n.d.).

Strategies for Success: A Multi-Tiered Approach

Achieving these ambitious goals requires a comprehensive and strategic approach. Our plan focuses on key strategies proven to enhance student outcomes:

• High-Quality Tier 1 Instruction for All: This means ensuring every student receives excellent, evidence-based instruction in every classroom, every day. This foundational tier of support is critical for broad academic success.
• Data-Driven Practices for Targeted Interventions: We will utilize assessment data to identify learning gaps early and implement tailored Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions for students who need additional support. This systematic approach ensures that no student is left behind.
• Expanded Opportunities for Advanced Coursework, Career Pathways, and Experiential Learning: We are committed to providing diverse opportunities that cater to every student’s interests and aspirations. This includes access to challenging academic courses, robust career and technical education (CTE) pathways, and hands-on experiential learning that connects classroom knowledge to real-world application.
• Ongoing Professional Development: Our educators are at the heart of student success. We will provide continuous, high-quality professional development to enhance teaching effectiveness, equip our staff with the latest instructional strategies, and ultimately improve student outcomes across all subjects and grade levels.

The Murray City School District Board of Education is confident that by focusing on these core priorities and implementing these strategic initiatives, we will not only meet but exceed our goals for student achievement, truly raising the bar for learning in our community. We invite our parents, community members, and partners to join us on this exciting journey as we work collaboratively to realize our vision of Every Student, Every Opportunity, Every Day.

References

• Acadience Learning. (n.d.a). Acadience Reading K-6. Retrieved from Acadience Learning
• Acadience Learning. (n.d.b). Pathways of Progress™. Retrieved from Acadience Learning
• Murray City School District. (2025). Five-Year Strategic Plan. (Internal Document).
• Utah State Board of Education. (n.d.). Utah’s Portrait of a Graduate. Retrieved from Schools dot Utah