Hello Students and Families,

First, I want to celebrate our Juniors for their focus and effort this week as we completed the Science and Math portions of our state assessments. You have already put in tremendous work, and we are proud of the grit you’ve shown.

Next week, we continue with the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of the SBAC, which consists of two parts: the Computer Adaptive Test and the Performance Task. As we head into this final stretch, we want to share why these tests are a powerful tool for your future and for our school community.

Why This Matters for YOU

Save Time and Money: High scores on the SBAC allow you to skip remedial, non-credit-bearing courses at the CSU and Community College levels. By doing your best now, you are literally saving yourself months of time and thousands of dollars in tuition later.

Validate Your GPA: While this test doesn't change your GPA, it validates it. It tells the colleges you are applying to that your grades are backed by high-level skills.

The Weight of Your Diploma: Our ranking on the California Schools Dashboard dictates how the world perceives our school. We want your diploma to carry prestige. Your hard work deserves to be recognized with a ‘Green’ or ‘Blue’ rating, showing everyone the true caliber of a student from this institution.

What We Know (And What the World Sees)

When students underperform simply because they aren’t motivated, the state and universities don’t see the brilliant projects you’ve built or the deep discussions you lead in class. They see a number that suggests you aren't ready—and we know that isn't true. Don't let a test score misrepresent your brilliance.

Important Logistics for Next Week

To ensure every student has the best chance to succeed, please note the following:

Take Your Time: If a test is completed too quickly, the system flags it as "insufficient effort." The test will be reset, and you will be required to miss future class time to retake it.

Expectation of Effort: The ELA test is designed to take more than one class period. On Friday, all students will remain in their assigned sessions for the full duration, even if they have finished. This is to ensure a quiet, focused environment for everyone.

Finished Early? Once you have genuinely completed your test, you must work silently on other schoolwork.

Juniors, you are so close to the finish line. Take your time, breathe, and show the world what we already know: that you are ready for whatever comes next.

Have a great weekend!

Principal Dominguez (he/him)

Principal | San Rafael High School