Strategic Plan
Gathering Input from the Community
On April 11, 2026 the School District of Altoona held a community input event. 53 people participated in a four-hour-long facilitated event. Participants included parents, staff, students, higher education representatives, business community representatives, and public officials.
At the event, community members heard a report out on the progress the district made over the course of the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan. Then, participants discussed their vision of Altoona as a community in 2045. From there, they discussed where the work the district is doing now is similar to the vision of Altoona 2045 and where there are opportunities for better alignment.
Among the feedback, key themes emerged:
As a whole, the community sees strong progress—especially in relationships and student support—and is asking us to build on that foundation by increasing consistency in results across the system and expanding future-ready opportunities for students.
Academic Outcomes
Key Takeaway: There is confidence in our academic direction, with a desire for continued alignment and consistency.
Top Growth Opportunity: Systemwide consistency in student performance (gaps) is the #1 growth area.
Future Ready Outcomes
Key Takeaway: Stakeholders recognize our efforts to prepare students for the future, and are asking us to expand and deepen that work.
Top Growth Opportunity: There is interest in expanding real-world learning experiences and post-secondary pathways for students.
Personal Success Outcomes
Key Takeaway: Our work around relationships, belonging, and supporting the whole child is one of the most recognized strengths in our system.
Top Growth Opportunity: While our focus on student well-being is valued, stakeholders want us to continue building depth and consistency in this area.
Operational Outcomes
Key Takeaway: There is confidence in how the district is managed and aligned to its priorities.
The input from this event was used to develop the 5-year strategic plan for 2026-2031.
Annual Outcomes and Actions
Strand Teams
Staff voice is an important part of putting the strategic plan into action. Each section, or “strand,” of the strategic plan is led by a team of staff members. The team meets throughout the year to make decisions about the direction and work of the district.
Districtwide Annual Plan
Every year in June, strand teams work together to develop yearlong goals and strategies that will be used to make progress on the five-year strategic plan. Every year, the focus of district work is driven by 45 staff members who represent schools and departments across the entire school district. In addition to setting the goals and strategies, the teams review progress. The goals and strategies for the year are organized on a Districtwide Scorecard.
School Annual Plans
Every year, school leadership teams review the districtwide goals and strategies. They consider how they can create goals and strategies that match their needs as a school but also help the full district make progress. The goals and strategies for the year are organized on a Building Scorecard.
2021-2026 Strategic Plan
The School District of Altoona closed out the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan in June of 2026 after a successful five-year implementation that resulted in increased opportunities and experiences for students as well as an improvement in student outcomes.
Review the full 2021-2026 Strategic Plan Outcomes report here