Aug. 31, 2011
SAN DIEGO UNIFIED'S STATE ACCOUNTABILITY SCORE AT HIGHEST LEVEL
Academic Performance Index (API) Report Puts District-Wide Score at 798
SAN DIEGO -- California's Academic Performance Index (API) results for
2011 show San Diego Unified's overall score nearly at the state's target
800 score, with 104 schools scoring at 800 or above and 28 scoring 900 or
higher.
Among other large districts around California, only Garden Grove exceeds
800, at 815; San Diego is second with 798, San Francisco third with 796.
The results were released Aug. 31.
"I want to congratulate the students, teachers and staffs at all of our
schools for their excellent showing," said Supt. Bill Kowba. "What is
particularly impressive is the growth that has come despite several years
of historic budget cuts."
The Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measure is used by the federal
Department of Education to determine if a school or district meets the
act's annual growth standards; those that do not are placed on Program
Improvement after two years. Four San Diego Unified schools exited Program
Improvement as a result of these test results: Garfield High School,
Kimbrough and Rosa Parks elementary schools, Garfield High School, and the
King/Chavez Arts charter school.
Despite the improved scores, 113 schools are now on Program Improvement,
up from 95 last year. School targets increased by about ten percentage
points over 2010. However, because of differences between the state and
federal standards, 20 schools met the California API target of 800, yet
are on Program Improvement according to the federal government.
"California has some of the most rigorous standards in the nation and
these schools excel," said Kowba. "Yet parents at these schools will
receive a letter saying that their school is failing. That just is not
true."
San Diego Unified's Board of Education has supported changes in the No
Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), including those advocated by state Supt. of
Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, who has called these schools
"mislabled."
Torlakson noted that statewide, 55 percent of elementary schools, 43
percent of middle schools and 28 percent of high schools were 800 or
above. In San Diego Unified, 59 percent of elementary schools met target,
along with 48 percent of middle schools and 26 percent of high schools.
Despite the increase, for the third year, San Diego Unified did not make
its AYP under NCLB. In its third year of Program Improvement, the district
will be required to take corrective actions that are yet to be identified.
San Diego Unified entered Program Improvement in 2009.
Among student groups, some achievement gaps continued to slowly narrow.
For example, while White students had a gain of 12 API points to 890 and
Asian students' scores rose 10 points to 878, Hispanic or Latino students
were up 14 points to 735 and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged students
increased 14 points to 746.
"We're pleased to see these achievement gaps continuing to narrow," said
Kowba. "Eliminating these gaps is one of the key missions of our district."
For scores of districts and individual schools, go to the state's website
at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/index.asp
Here are San Diego Unified's high scorers.
Elementary School Scores
La Jolla Elementary, 982
Torrey Pines Elementary, 989
Elementary Top Growth
Sherman Elementary, 95
Cubberley Elementary, 62
Middle School Scores
Marshall Middle School, 932
Muirlands Middle School, 897
Middle School Top Growth
Innovation Middle, 43
Millennial Tech Middle, 40
High School Scores
Scripps Ranch High, 883
San Diego High International Studies, 873
High School Growth
iHigh Virtual Academy, 60
Twain High, 50
# # #
CONTACT:
Ron Rode, Executive Director
Office of Accountability
San Diego Unified School District
4100 Normal St., #3150
San Diego, CA 92103-2682
619-725-7190
www.sandi.net/red
+ + +
Jack Brandais
Communications Department
San Diego Unified School District
(619) 725-5570 (Desk)
(619) 607-0477 (Cell)
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