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Huntington Beach City School District

Igniting Young Minds to Reach for a Bright Future

2026 Communications Survey - What We Heard

Posted Date: 06/04/26 (03:00 PM)
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Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in our 2026 Communications Survey. This was our fourth annual survey, and your thoughtful responses help us understand how well we are connecting with the families and staff who make up Huntington Beach City School District (HBCSD). This year, 322 participants shared their feedback, 80% of whom were parents and guardians, and we are grateful for every response.


Here is a snapshot of what we heard:


  • Trust is strong. 87% of respondents indicated they trust the district to communicate transparently and effectively, a 5% increase from the 2025 survey. Trust is a meaningful foundation we are committed to building on. 

  • Most feel informed. 71% of the community feels adequately or fully informed by district communications.

  • ParentSquare remains our most effective communication channel, with 74% rating it effective or very effective. Our focus now shifts from frequency to quality: clearer subject lines, less repetition, and more targeted messaging.


And here is where we can improve:


  • Reaching our full community. Since we launched this annual survey, we have consistently heard that layered communication across classrooms, schools, and the district can feel overwhelming. In response, we have been intentional about reserving district-level messages for strategic, timely, or urgent information, and have moved much of our positive news and district-wide happenings to social media. However, this survey confirmed that a significant portion of our community is not accessing that channel, and we will explore additional ways to share this type of news more broadly.

  • Strategic Plan awareness. 42% of respondents reported moderate to excellent knowledge of the Strategic Plan; an improvement, but an area where we can do more to make our goals and progress visible to the community.

  • District challenges. Only 38% of respondents indicated moderate to excellent knowledge of district challenges such as budget, staffing, and board decisions. Our community wants clearer, more accessible information in these areas.

  • Two-way communication. 70% of respondents feel there are opportunities for feedback and dialogue with the district. We want that number to grow, and increasing transparency and engagement will be a priority in the year ahead.


Your feedback directly informs the strategic goals we are setting for the 2026–27 school year, particularly within Focus Area 3: Community Engagement of our Strategic Plan. This data is also used to guide our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) work for the next three-year cycle.


We encourage you to explore the full results:


Thank you again for your partnership. We look forward to putting your feedback into action.