In 2016, Merced Union High School District (MUHSD) sought to redefine educational success as part of its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The district partnered with Inflexion to focus on graduating life-ready young adults equipped with 21st-century skills. Over a multi-year engagement, Inflexion supported MUHSD in aligning structures and strategies across nine schools, fostering equity, improving college and career readiness, and achieving measurable results.
The results speak for themselves: underserved student groups including African American, Hispanic, and English Learners now achieve College/Career Indicator scores 16 to 29 points higher than the state average. MUHSD’s collaboration with Inflexion continues to serve as a model for equity-focused education reform.
Client Background
Merced Union High School District serves nine schools in a diverse region of California. With students from a wide range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. The district is committed to creating equitable opportunities that empower all learners to succeed.
The Challenge
MUHSD faced systemic challenges in meeting the needs of historically underserved student groups. Graduation rates and college/career readiness outcomes varied widely across the district, with disparities among students of different socioeconomic, linguistic, and racial backgrounds.
Additionally, the district needed to align its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) goals with California School Dashboard metrics to demonstrate progress. MUHSD sought a comprehensive approach to transform its schools into equitable, student-centered environments where all learners could thrive. As part of California’s LCAP initiative, MUHSD aimed to shift its focus from test scores to life-readiness, equipping students with 21st-century skills for college, career, and beyond.
Inflexion’s Solution
To address its challenges, MUHSD partnered with Inflexion to implement the Inflexion Approach, a comprehensive framework designed to create equitable and life-ready schools. By engaging stakeholders -including students, staff, families, and community members- Inflexion helped each school define a shared vision for student readiness and a cohesive school identity. Using these insights, leadership teams conducted Coherence Checks to evaluate existing programs, ensuring alignment with readiness and equity goals.
Inflexion supported the development of multi-year strategic plans, targeting areas such as behavior management, culturally inclusive practices, and equitable hiring. Through professional development and coaching, Inflexion equipped educators and administrators with the tools needed to implement systemic change and address the diverse needs of their student populations.
Implementation
Inflexion partnered with MUHSD to roll out the Inflexion Approach across all nine schools in the district over multiple years, tailoring the process to meet each school’s unique needs. The implementation began with a focus on stakeholder engagement, gathering input from over 250 students, families, staff, and community members through surveys and focus groups. This collaborative effort defined a shared vision for student readiness and a cohesive school identity, which became the foundation for aligning school structures and practices.
Professional development played a central role, as Inflexion provided training on the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework, equity practices, and strategic alignment. School leadership teams worked with Inflexion to evaluate existing programs through Coherence Checks, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement. Using these insights, schools developed actionable, multi-year strategic plans to address areas such as behavior management, culturally inclusive practices, and equitable hiring. This structured yet flexible approach ensured that each school made meaningful progress toward achieving equity and readiness goals, while maintaining the capacity to adapt to evolving needs. At Livingston High School, for example, the implementation included crafting Life-Ready Maxims, aligning classroom practices and student supports with a shared vision of readiness and belonging.
Results
MUHSD’s collaboration with Inflexion has achieved measurable and transformative results:
- Improved Student Outcomes: Discipline rates fell significantly below state average for all students. College/Career Indicator scores for underserved groups, including Hispanic, English Learners, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, are 16 to 29 points higher than the state average.
- Increased Equity: Schools now systematically address the needs of historically underserved populations, creating more inclusive environments.
- Stronger Engagement: Community-driven strategies have led to greater involvement from families and students, fostering a shared commitment to success.
- Enhanced School Identity: Schools like Livingston High embraced Life-Ready Maxims, aligning all practices with a clear vision of readiness and belonging.
