The Academic Performance Index simplifies the results of the state’s standardized testing program, including the California High School Exit Exam for high schools, into a single number based on a scale that ranges from a low of 200 to a high of 1000 points. Under California’s accountability program, schools are expected to improve each year until reaching the target of 800. Schools at or above a score of 800 are expected to maintain their scores above 800.
The median API score in Humboldt County was 793, up from the prior year’s 764. California reported an overall API of 755. Twenty-seven county schools had APIs of 800 or higher, and two schools, Jacoby Creek Charter School and Garfield Elementary School, attained scores in the 900s.
Scores for local schools showed a wide variety of results, according to the California Department of Education web site. Redway Elementary School hit the target score of 800 for 2009, up 30 points from the previous year. Whitethorn School’s score went from 812 in 2008 to 878 in 2009. Agnes Johnson School improved their score from 773 to 789, meeting their growth target for the year. Casterlin School also met their growth target, improving 20 points in 2009 to 739. South Fork High School’s 2009 API was 716, down 25 points from last year’s score of 741.
In Mendocino County, Leggett Valley Elementary School dropped 28 points, from 636 in 2008 to 608 in 2009. Leggett Valley High School showed a drop of 50 points, from 717 to 667. Whale Gulch School had the smallest decline in the district, losing only 9 points for a 2009 score of 765.
This year, 59 percent of Humboldt County schools improved their APIs over the prior year. Of the schools that had state-assigned growth targets, 76 percent met their goals. The California Department of Education reported that 42 percent of schools in the state met API targets.
For schools that do not have APIs at 800 or above, the state defines a school’s growth target as an improvement of 5 percent of the difference between the school’s prior year API and 800, with the minimum growth target set at 5 points. By law, significant subgroups within a school, including ethnic groups, disadvantaged children, English learners, and students with disabilities, must also make improvement for a school to meet its API target. Growth targets are not assigned for continuation and alternative schools, but they are required to meet other benchmarks.
The state release also reported on whether county schools met federal expectations for Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) under No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
Sixty-seven percent of Humboldt County schools met all components of the AYP criteria. Statewide, 51 percent of schools met the federal goals. The federal standards also measure LEA (school district) performance. In Humboldt County, 63 percent of LEAs met all AYP criteria. Thirty-eight percent of LEAs in the state made that goal.
Unlike California’s accountability model, which is based upon improvement, the NCLB model is based upon a school’s ability to meet specified targets. The targets are raised annually.
To meet federal goals this year, a school must have tested more than 95 percent of its students, achieved a minimum percent proficient in English-language arts and math on the state’s standards tests and received a state API score of at least 650 or demonstrated improvement. High schools were additionally required to have a graduation rate of 83.1 percent or have shown improvement.
Schools, districts, and county offices that receive federal Title I funds and do not meet all of the federally mandated yearly progress criteria are expected to show improvement in the next year. If performance doesn’t improve after two years, they are identified for Program Improvement and must notify parents and take prescribed corrective actions.
Federal No Child Left Behind requirements will rise steeply for the next four years, making it progressively more difficult for schools and districts to meet AYP objectives. By the 2013-2014 school year, NCLB stipulates that 100 percent of students at all schools must score at the proficient level or above. California is recognized nationally for setting its proficiency standards very high in comparison with most other states.
With the release of the new Accountability Progress Reports, schools and districts will now have an opportunity to review their data, identify errors and make corrections. The reports will be updated in November 2009 and again in February 2010.
The Humboldt County Academic Performance Index and Annual Yearly Progress reports can be accessed through the Humboldt County Office of Education’s web site at http://www.humboldt.k12.ca.us under “Information for Parents and the Community.” Academic Progress Reports for all counties and schools in the state are posted on the California Department of Education’s web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/.
Font Resize
