San Bernardino County middle schools show improvements in Academic Performance Index base scores
San Bernardino County middle schools showed marked improvements in Academic Performance Index base scores released Thursday.
County middle schools on average improved their API base scores by 25 points in 2008, according to data released by the California Department of Education.
Also, the number of county middle schools that scored at or above the state standard of 800 points doubled.
The API base report informs districts and schools about where the state expects academic growth and achievement.
"The trends for our county schools continue to move in a positive direction," county Superintendent Gary Thomas said.
County elementary and high schools showed their 10th consecutive year of growth in median API base scores.
The report summarized results from the spring 2008 testing season and has become the baseline against which to compare the 2009 Growth API, which will be released in September.
Some schools, such as Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, will have a 2008 API base score, but will not have a 2009 API target. This is because the school scored above the statewide performance target of 800 points, said Jeff Ellingsen, director of research and assessment at Chaffey Joint Union High School District.
In lieu of a number, the letter 'A' will be used in the API target category.
"All they're expected to do at this point is just maintain that above-800 mark," Ellingsen said.
County median figures for subgroups also showed improvement with year-to-year gains for blacks, Hispanics, whites, students from poor families, English learners and students with disabilities.
The subgroups also have state targets that they need to meet, Ellingsen said.
"We have our curriculum and know based on the data what we need to do to meet those targets," Ellingsen said. "As long as we're doing that, then we should be able to meet any requirement."
San Bernardino City Unified School District has been working hard to improve test scores at its schools, Superintendent Arturo Delgado said.
"Even in the face of budget shortfalls, our teachers have done a terrific job," Delgado said.
API base results indicate the school district is making improvements and that is what is critical, said Danny Tillman, San Bernardino City Unified board member.
"We have been making improvements continuously as we get more creative and make do with less," Tillman said.
Schools and parents will likely have their eyes set on the 2008 Similar School Rank, a component of the API base report, to compare the performance of their school with other state public schools.
Based on a scale of 1 to 10, the Similar School Rank compares an individual school to similar public schools as well as to those with similar educational opportunities and challenges.
At this point, the only concern the district has is that each school does as well as other schools that are similar to them, if not better, said Karla Wells, OMSD director of academic accountability.
Educators attribute the improvements on the API base to hard work as well as dedicated school staff members, parents and students.
However, Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, said he is worried the gains in student achievement are in jeopardy because of billions of dollars in anticipated cuts to public schools.
"The base API report provides evidence yet again of why it is so critical that we focus on this challenge," O'Connell said. "We have a moral and economic imperative to prepare all students with an education that will help them succeed. But this critical work is also likely to be stymied if the massive budget cuts to our schools become a reality."
Making changes
Changes made in calculating the 2008 base API:
• The elimination of the 2008 California Achievement Test results for third and seventh grades;
• Including the 2008 California Modified Assessment results from third through fifth grades; and
• Adjusting the 2008 base API for local educational agencies and schools that administer the California Modified Assessment in sixth through eighth grades in 2009.
Know the score
2008 base Academic Performance Index scores by district:
Adelanto: 740
Alta Loma Elementary: 828
Apple Valley Unified: 746
Baker Valley Unified: 637
Barstow Unified: 680
Bear Valley Unified: 771
Central Elementary: 806
Chaffey Joint Union High: 734
Chino Valley Unified: 782
Claremont Unified: 819
Colton Joint Unified: 767
Cucamonga Elementary: 745
Etiwanda Elementary: 840
Fontana Unified: 694
Helendale Elementary: 768
Hesperia Unified: 716
Lucerne Valley Unified: 675
Morongo Unified: 741
Mountain View Elementary: 808
Mt. Baldy Joint: 845
Needles Unified: 696
Ontario-Montclair Elementary: 705
Oro Grande Elementary: 641
Pomona Unified: 705
Redlands Unified: 782
Rialto Unified: 683
Rim of the World Unified: 750
San Bernardino City Unified: 659
Silver Valley Unified: 741
Snowline Joint Unified: 780
Trona Joint Unified: 656
Upland Unified: 789
Victor Elementary: 781
Victor Valley Union High: 667
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified: 764
County middle schools on average improved their API base scores by 25 points in 2008, according to data released by the California Department of Education.
Also, the number of county middle schools that scored at or above the state standard of 800 points doubled.
The API base report informs districts and schools about where the state expects academic growth and achievement.
"The trends for our county schools continue to move in a positive direction," county Superintendent Gary Thomas said.
County elementary and high schools showed their 10th consecutive year of growth in median API base scores.
The report summarized results from the spring 2008 testing season and has become the baseline against which to compare the 2009 Growth API, which will be released in September.
Some schools, such as Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, will have a 2008 API base score, but will not have a 2009 API target. This is because the school scored above the statewide performance target of 800 points, said Jeff Ellingsen, director of research and assessment at Chaffey Joint Union High School District.
In lieu of a number, the letter 'A' will be used in the API target category.
"All they're expected to do at this point is just maintain that above-800 mark," Ellingsen said.
County median figures for subgroups also showed improvement with year-to-year gains for blacks, Hispanics, whites, students from poor families, English learners and students with disabilities.
The subgroups also have state targets that they need to meet, Ellingsen said.
"We have our curriculum and know based on the data what we need to do to meet those targets," Ellingsen said. "As long as we're doing that, then we should be able to meet any requirement."
San Bernardino City Unified School District has been working hard to improve test scores at its schools, Superintendent Arturo Delgado said.
"Even in the face of budget shortfalls, our teachers have done a terrific job," Delgado said.
API base results indicate the school district is making improvements and that is what is critical, said Danny Tillman, San Bernardino City Unified board member.
"We have been making improvements continuously as we get more creative and make do with less," Tillman said.
Schools and parents will likely have their eyes set on the 2008 Similar School Rank, a component of the API base report, to compare the performance of their school with other state public schools.
Based on a scale of 1 to 10, the Similar School Rank compares an individual school to similar public schools as well as to those with similar educational opportunities and challenges.
At this point, the only concern the district has is that each school does as well as other schools that are similar to them, if not better, said Karla Wells, OMSD director of academic accountability.
Educators attribute the improvements on the API base to hard work as well as dedicated school staff members, parents and students.
However, Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, said he is worried the gains in student achievement are in jeopardy because of billions of dollars in anticipated cuts to public schools.
"The base API report provides evidence yet again of why it is so critical that we focus on this challenge," O'Connell said. "We have a moral and economic imperative to prepare all students with an education that will help them succeed. But this critical work is also likely to be stymied if the massive budget cuts to our schools become a reality."
Making changes
Changes made in calculating the 2008 base API:
• The elimination of the 2008 California Achievement Test results for third and seventh grades;
• Including the 2008 California Modified Assessment results from third through fifth grades; and
• Adjusting the 2008 base API for local educational agencies and schools that administer the California Modified Assessment in sixth through eighth grades in 2009.
Know the score
2008 base Academic Performance Index scores by district:
Adelanto: 740
Alta Loma Elementary: 828
Apple Valley Unified: 746
Baker Valley Unified: 637
Barstow Unified: 680
Bear Valley Unified: 771
Central Elementary: 806
Chaffey Joint Union High: 734
Chino Valley Unified: 782
Claremont Unified: 819
Colton Joint Unified: 767
Cucamonga Elementary: 745
Etiwanda Elementary: 840
Fontana Unified: 694
Helendale Elementary: 768
Hesperia Unified: 716
Lucerne Valley Unified: 675
Morongo Unified: 741
Mountain View Elementary: 808
Mt. Baldy Joint: 845
Needles Unified: 696
Ontario-Montclair Elementary: 705
Oro Grande Elementary: 641
Pomona Unified: 705
Redlands Unified: 782
Rialto Unified: 683
Rim of the World Unified: 750
San Bernardino City Unified: 659
Silver Valley Unified: 741
Snowline Joint Unified: 780
Trona Joint Unified: 656
Upland Unified: 789
Victor Elementary: 781
Victor Valley Union High: 667
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified: 764
Staff writer Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell contributed to this report.
Go Etiwanda!!
Nice to see Chino Valley Unified coming in at 782. Should be fun to compare the 2008 scores to what they will score after the board kills off over 177 teaching jobs in the district. CVSD is a JOKE!