HSD News Round-Up
March 24, 2026 Round-Up
OSPI Index Shows Big Learning Gains by HSD Students
OSPI's newly released 2025 Annual Snapshot on Student Opportunity and Outcomes documents some impressive increases in academic performance by Hockinson students, including:
- Kindergarten readiness: 68.4% of students entered kindergarten ready in all 6 areas of development and learning, up from 61.7 in 2024.
Fourth grade reading: 80% of fourth graders read at grade level or higher in 2025, an improvement from 69.9% in 2024.
Eighth grade reading: 93.6% of 8th graders read at grade level or above in 2025, compared to 85.5% in 2024.
- Ninth graders on track to graduate: 86.8% of 9th graders passed all of their classes in 2025, compared to 83.1% in 2024.
- Four year graduation rate: 97% of students graduated high school on-time in 2025, up from 95% in 2024.
Read about more measures of success in the Hockinson School District on our Data Dashboard and view the full OSPI 2025 Annual Snapshot on Student Opportunity and Outcomes here.
Preparing all Students for Lifelong Success: HSD Students Finish Atop Annual Solar Car Challenge
Earlier this month, 20 fourth and fifth graders from Hockinson Heights Elementary School participated in the annual Clark Public Utilities Solar Car competition, and two HHES teams earned 1st and 2nd place finishes! Students from Hockinson Middle School also competed, finishing 3rd! This experience brought scientific principles to life and helped students develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, preparing them for a possible career in STEM-related fields. Learn more here.
Enroll, Enlist, or Enter the Workforce: 8th Grade Students Plan for High School
Pictured: HMS 8th Graders forecast for 9th Grade class schedules.
Last month, eighth-grade students explored high school academic and extracurricular options and toured the HHS campus during 8th Grade Forecasting Night. The event supports a smooth transition into ninth grade and exposes rising freshmen to HHS course pathways that set them on track for post-secondary college and career success.
FAFSA is for every senior. Fill out the FAFSA!
No matter what your student's plans are after graduation, completing the FAFSA can help open doors to an array of postsecondary education options. FAFSA can help pay for community college, 4-year universities, trade schools, and certification programs. Many scholarships and programs also require a completed FAFSA, even if you don’t qualify for income-based aid. Apply here.
Need help? FAFSA support is available through Mrs. Reynolds at Hockinson High School.
HHES Teachers, Students Focus in on Literacy & Math Skills
Some big numbers have come out of Hockinson Heights Elementary School this month that indicate teaching and learning has gone to a whole new level up on The Hill. As of mid-March, 452 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students have completed over 1,700 formative assessments in an effort to better develop their English-Language Arts and Math skills and bolster confidence and preparedness for the Smarter Balanced Assessment later this spring.
This is not about "teaching to the test" nor are students spending hours of class time taking assessments. "These assessments are brief, but really useful," said Meredith Gannon, HHES Principal. "They enable our teachers to pinpoint the skills that students have mastered and those where additional help is needed. The data helps our teachers plan timely instruction to help our students grow," she added.
Learn more here.
Napoleon Dynamite LIVE! Event Benefits HHS Theatre
Napoleon Dynamite LIVE! - a two-night event at HHS on March 5 and 6 - was a kid-friendly evening full of nostalgia, community, and plenty of laughs. Fans packed the school’s multi-purpose room for a screening of the film, followed by interactive activities and a Q&A with three of the film’s stars: Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). Best of all, the event was a very successful fundraiser for the Hockinson High School Theatre Company! (Don't forget: The HHS spring musical Shrek Jr. is coming up May 7-9!)
Photo credit: Hawks Fan Photography
Budget Bite: Reducing Boundary Exceptions a Possibility for 2026-27
Hockinson School District is experiencing continued enrollment growth and limited classroom space, which may impact boundary exception renewals for the 2026-27 school year. Families can learn more about what this may mean as well as next steps here.
Levy Spotlight: Inside HHS’s New Strength and Conditioning Program
Since launching in January, Hockinson High School’s Strength and Conditioning program has been helping students build strength and speed to reduce injuries through structured after-school training. Students are already making impressive gains: HMS athlete Tristan Poe boosted his deadlift record from 205 to 350 lbs and HHS athlete Greysen Aldridge reports less knee pain and significant progress in upper- and lower-body strength. Multiple other Hockinson athletes report similar physical benefits and personal strength records. Coach Seekins leads the program with a collegiate-style approach and training sessions four days a week. All HHS and HMS 8th grade athletes are welcome to join.
Read more here.
HSD Parent & Community Perception Survey: The Results are In
The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) recently gathered feedback through a Hockinson School District Parent & Community Perception Survey. A total of 212 respondents shared their perspectives on areas of school performance, options for 5th grade in 2027-28, cell phone policies, and district calendar options. View the full survey results summary here.
Reminder: Parent/Teacher Conferences & 3-Hour Early Release are next week:
3/30-4/3 HHES Conferences with 3-hr early release
4/2-4/3 HMS & HHS Conferences with 3-hr early release
Mark Your Calendars: Spring Break is April 6-10. See full HSD calendar.
Students: Notify media techs & Staff: Submit a tech ticket if you plan on accessing your HSD account from outside the U.S.
Check out our new 2024-25 Annual Report! Note: Annual reports summarize the previous school year.
Contact Us
Email: justine.vazquez@esd112.org
Website: https://www.hocksd.org/
Location: 17912 NE 159th St, Brush Prairie, WA 98606, USA
Phone: (360) 448-6400