Five RWC Schools Boost Test Performance in Latest API Scoring

—Written by Joan Dentler

Editor's note: "A" means the school scored at or above the statewide performance target of 800 in 2013; "D"means this is either an LEA or a special education school. Target information is not applicable to LEAs or special education schools.

Selby Lane and Roosevelt elementary schools were two of the five Redwood City schools to post gains on student test performance last year, according to numbers released Thursday by state school chief Tom Torlakson.

Selby Lane increased 14 points from the 2012 base Academic Performance Index of 716 to a 2013 Growth API of 730; Roosevelt's API scores increased 13 points, from 788 to 801, putting it just above the statewide performance target of 800 in 2013.

Overall, schools in the Redwood City School District (comprised of 14 elementary and two middle schools) dropped nine points from 791 in 2012 to 782 in 2013. Garfield Elementary School experienced the biggest drop, from 694 to 662. McKinley Institute of Technology (middle school) increased by one point.

The API is a score ranging from 200 to 1,000 that measures how well students do on a variety of tests, including the California Standards Test and the state’s high school exit exam. The state has set 800 as the API target for all schools to meet. Here’s a detailed http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/documents/apiexecsummary.pdf" rel="nofollow">summary of the API from the California Department of Education.

Statewide, the number of California schools meeting the state target for student performance on standardized tests dropped by 2 percent.

In 2013, 51 percent of the state’s schools earned an Academic Performance Index score of 800 or above, compared to 53 percent the previous year.

Based on 2013 test scores, 56 percent of elementary schools, 50 percent of middle schools, and 31 percent of high schools are now at or above the 800 mark.

In the last decade, the number of schools meeting the target of an 800 API has increased by 30 percent.

The state’s overall API dropped two points to 789 from 791, but Torlakson was quick to note that the statewide API for poor students and students learning English increased five points and one point, respectively.

“Despite the very real challenges of deep budget cuts and the ongoing effort to shift to new, more demanding academic standards, our schools persevered and students made progress,” Torlakson said.

“These results should give us confidence as we start the new school year, and our efforts to make college- and career-readiness a goal for every student move into high gear,” he added.