At Impact Public Schools, we believe every child deserves a strong start. This year, our Kindergarten scholars proved what’s possible when high expectations, great teaching, and personalized support come together.
We’re excited to celebrate a major milestone: 88.3% of our Kindergarten scholars demonstrated mastery on the 95% Phonics Unit 6 End-of-Unit Assessment, exceeding our end-of-year goal of 65%.
In other words, nearly 9 out of 10 Kindergarten scholars finished the year with the foundational literacy skills needed to succeed in first grade and beyond.
That’s a result worth celebrating!
A Goal Worth Chasing
At the start of the school year, our goal was clear: ensure that at least 65% of Kindergarten scholars demonstrated mastery of critical phonics skills by the end of the year. These skills are the building blocks of reading. They help young learners recognize sounds, understand how letters work together, and begin reading independently.
By year’s end, our scholars didn’t just meet the goal, they exceeded it, reaching an impressive 88.3% mastery rate. While we’re proud of the number, we’re even more proud of what it represents: our scholars building the confidence and skills they need to thrive as readers.
The Power of a Strong Foundation
Kindergarten is one of the most important years in a child’s educational journey. Research aligned with the Science of Reading shows that strong phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding skills in the early years are highly predictive of future reading success. When scholars leave Kindergarten with a strong foundation, they are better prepared to make the important shift from learning to read to reading to learn in the years that follow.
This year’s success was driven by an intentional, research-based approach to literacy instruction. Rather than waiting until the end of the year to identify learning gaps, our teachers started with the end goal in mind, backward-planning from the skills scholars would need to be successful in first grade. Through daily WIN (“What I Need”) blocks, teachers used ongoing data to provide targeted instruction, additional practice, and multiple opportunities for scholars to strengthen the specific skills they needed most.
“This achievement reflects what happens when great teaching, strong systems and a deep belief in every scholar come together”, said Winona Jan Colina, our Manager of Early Academics and Special Education. “Our teachers did not wait for gaps to appear. They used data to meet scholars where they were at, and they built the confidence and joy that helped scholars get there.”
One of the most impactful shifts this year was how teachers used data proactively rather than reactively. By continuously monitoring scholar progress and adjusting instruction in real time, teachers were able to provide support before small gaps became larger challenges. This approach was especially powerful for our multilingual learners, providing a clear and structured pathway into English language development while helping them build confidence as readers. The result: more scholars mastering foundational literacy skills and entering first grade ready to thrive.
As our Kindergarten scholars developed foundational reading skills this year, they were also learning how to persevere through challenges, work collaboratively, celebrate growth, and build confidence in themselves as learners. These are the skills that prepare children not just for first grade, but for success throughout elementary school and beyond.
Congratulations to our Kindergarten scholars and teachers on an incredible year. We can’t wait to see all they accomplish next!