County schools show improvement on median API base scores
SAN BERNARDINO Middle schools in San Bernardino County improved by 25
points in their median Academic Performance Index (API) Base and the number
of middle schools at or above the state standard of 800 more than doubled,
according to data released today by the California Department of Education.
In addition, elementary and high schools both showed their 10th
consecutive year of growth in median API Base scores.
"The trends for our county schools continue to move in a
positive direction," County Superintendent Gary Thomas said. "Our schools
and districts are to be commended for the daily work they do to promote
academic achievement for all of our students, and our students and staff are
to be commended for their hard work and continuous improvement. This year,
middle schools showed particularly strong growth."
Compared to state median scores, county schools still trail API
Bases at the elementary, middle and high school levels, although the gaps
closed at the elementary and middle school levels.
Elementary schools have improved their API Base median scores
from 629 points in 1999 to 777 in 2008, an increase of 148 points. County
elementary schools closed the disparity to the state median to 17 points,
the closest it has been in 10 years of reporting.
At the middle school level, county API Base median scores jumped
25 points from 2007. The county API Base of 718 narrowed the difference to
the state median by five points. In 10 years of reporting, the county API
Base has improved from 587 in 1999 to 718 in 2008, an improvement of 131
points.
At the high school level, the county API Base rose eight points
to 691. In the past 10 years, the county API Base has grown 139 points from
552 in 1999.
County median figures for subgroups also showed improvement with
year-to-year gains for African American, Hispanic, White, Socioeconomically
Disadvantaged, English Learners and Students with Disabilities.
As for the number of county schools reaching the statewide API
target of 800, 29.6 percent of elementary schools or 92 schools are at
or above 800. For county middle schools, 20.8 percent (16 schools) have
reached the 800 target. Last year, only seven county middle schools were at
the state standard of 800. At the high school level, 4.2 percent (two
schools) in the county have reached or exceeded the API target.
The API Base sets each school¹s baseline scores for academic
performance and annual growth targets. Additionally, the scores establish
similar school rankings, with schools ranked by size and student population
served. Schools are ranked academically on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the
highest) and compared to other schools statewide (statewide rankings) and to
schools with similar characteristics (similar schools rankings). Small
schools, those with student populations of less than 100 students, and
alternative schools did not figure in the API Base results.
points in their median Academic Performance Index (API) Base and the number
of middle schools at or above the state standard of 800 more than doubled,
according to data released today by the California Department of Education.
In addition, elementary and high schools both showed their 10th
consecutive year of growth in median API Base scores.
"The trends for our county schools continue to move in a
positive direction," County Superintendent Gary Thomas said. "Our schools
and districts are to be commended for the daily work they do to promote
academic achievement for all of our students, and our students and staff are
to be commended for their hard work and continuous improvement. This year,
middle schools showed particularly strong growth."
Compared to state median scores, county schools still trail API
Bases at the elementary, middle and high school levels, although the gaps
closed at the elementary and middle school levels.
Elementary schools have improved their API Base median scores
from 629 points in 1999 to 777 in 2008, an increase of 148 points. County
elementary schools closed the disparity to the state median to 17 points,
the closest it has been in 10 years of reporting.
At the middle school level, county API Base median scores jumped
25 points from 2007. The county API Base of 718 narrowed the difference to
the state median by five points. In 10 years of reporting, the county API
Base has improved from 587 in 1999 to 718 in 2008, an improvement of 131
points.
At the high school level, the county API Base rose eight points
to 691. In the past 10 years, the county API Base has grown 139 points from
552 in 1999.
County median figures for subgroups also showed improvement with
year-to-year gains for African American, Hispanic, White, Socioeconomically
Disadvantaged, English Learners and Students with Disabilities.
As for the number of county schools reaching the statewide API
target of 800, 29.6 percent of elementary schools or 92 schools are at
or above 800. For county middle schools, 20.8 percent (16 schools) have
reached the 800 target. Last year, only seven county middle schools were at
the state standard of 800. At the high school level, 4.2 percent (two
schools) in the county have reached or exceeded the API target.
The API Base sets each school¹s baseline scores for academic
performance and annual growth targets. Additionally, the scores establish
similar school rankings, with schools ranked by size and student population
served. Schools are ranked academically on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the
highest) and compared to other schools statewide (statewide rankings) and to
schools with similar characteristics (similar schools rankings). Small
schools, those with student populations of less than 100 students, and
alternative schools did not figure in the API Base results.
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