State monitor reports strengths and outstanding data needs at Deming Cesar Chavez Charter High School

A state monitor who conducted a site visit on April 20 told the Deming Public Schools board that Deming Cesar Chavez Charter High School demonstrates strong classroom practices and student supports but still needs to finalize academic data used to evaluate some performance measures.

"The school's educational program is fully evident," the monitor said, noting classroom observations and stakeholder interviews that underscored the school's focus on life skills and students' growth in confidence. The monitor also reported the school had two audit findings categorized as "other non-compliance" but no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies.

Students and teachers described how the school builds social and employability skills; the monitor cited WIDA English learner data showing notable writing gains for EL students (about 62% improved in writing) while noting listening and oral skills remain areas for improvement. The monitor praised recent improvements to the school's governing-board transparency and said changes to posted agendas and recordings helped move a previously noncompliant indicator to "working to meet standard."

School leadership presented three state-provided turnaround options after the school did not exit the highest intervention status: restart, redesign or closure. The leader described a preference for preserving the charter's focus on small-cohort supports and work-readiness pathways and outlined next steps including expanded advisories, nine-week soft-skills curriculum, diagnostic math assessments from third through eighth grade, and partnership outreach to industry for internships.

Board members asked for continued data-sharing; the monitor said a finalized annual monitoring report is expected by July once all data (including interim academic measures) are compiled.