A District in Need of Change
Poway Unified School District (USD), located in northern San Diego County, serves more than 34,000 students across 40 schools. With a diverse student population, including nearly 62% students of color and 9.9% of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, the district has faced the same challenge seen across much of San Diego County: a persistent literacy crisis.
In 2024, just 39% of fourth graders in San Diego performed at or above grade proficiency in reading, and nearly half of third graders failed to meet literacy standards. Within the landscape of this crisis are pockets of disproportionate struggle: for example, almost 70% of White students met standards compared to just 40% of Black students and 44% of Latinx students.
At Poway USD, these gaps showed up as early as third and fourth grade, when referrals to special education began to climb. Many students lacked phonemic awareness and phonics skills, leaving them unprepared for higher-level reading tasks.
Finding a Structured Solution
In 2018–19, Poway’s Special Education Department adopted IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Plus (OG+) curriculum. The district sought a program grounded in the science of reading, aligned with Structured Literacy, and designed to build teacher knowledge while offering practical classroom resources.
The results in special education classrooms were promising. By 2020, Poway USD made the decision to expand IMSE training into general education classrooms in kindergarten through second grade. Over two school years, nearly 400 K–2 teachers were trained across 26 elementary campuses.
This training went well beyond the theoretical. Teachers practiced multisensory lessons, collaborated on strategies, and received ongoing coaching. For the first time, general education teachers, interventionists, and literacy specialists began to speak the same instructional language.
As Trenace Sevilla, Elementary Curriculum Teacher on Special Assignment, described it:
“When I walk into a classroom, teachers are specific about what they’re asking students to do, and students know exactly what to do. That level of clarity has been transformative.”
A Culture Shift
IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Plus gave Poway USD a structured, evidence-based approach that empowered teachers and engaged students. The shift began to produce crucial improvements in culture, attitudes, and reading outcomes all at once.
- Teachers reported that they finally understood how to teach reading effectively.
- Students became more confident and engaged, excited to show progress in decoding, spelling, and comprehension.
- Instruction became consistent across grade levels, ensuring students advanced with a stronger foundation.
Measurable Gains
The impact on student literacy outcomes has been inspiring:
- Kindergarten proficiency jumped from 57% to 91% in a single school year.
- First grade proficiency rose from 34% to 84%.
- Second grade scores climbed from 54% to 85%.
- 97% of students who completed pre- and mid-year testing showed improved literacy scores.
These dramatic results have caused waves outside the district. Educators from across California, and even from out of state, have visited Poway schools to see IMSE’s approach in action. Parents and board members have also recognized the visible change in student engagement and teacher confidence.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Structured Literacy
Poway Unified’s success has created a “trickle-up effect,” as students advance into upper grades with stronger literacy foundations. District leaders anticipate continued growth in grades three through five and hope to expand training with IMSE’s Morphology Plus program, which focuses on prefixes, suffixes, root words, and language origins.
When Sevilla reflects on Poway’s progress over the last few years, she sees not only a success story but a model for other districts and a path to follow in the future:
“We know this is just the beginning. With a strong foundation in place, our goal is to continue supporting students as they move into upper grades. The consistency we’ve built will carry us all forward.”
Want to learn more about Poway Unified School District’s literacy journey?
Read the full case study and find out how IMSE’s approach can help your district achieve similar success.
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