The State Superintendent of Public Instruction has released the Academic Performance Index (API) growth reports for the School District and, incidentally, for 6,400 California public schools.
Results show that all but two Culver City schools have reached the statewide performance target of 800. Several schools had enormous jumps in their scores.
“Test scores should not be used by themselves to determine the success of our children in the classroom,” said Supt. Dr. Myrna Rivera Cote. “However, the achievements of our schools on the latest API report are nothing short of exceptional.
“Increases of six times the growth target at the Middle School; and increases of 8 points at El Rincon, 13 points at La Ballona and 15 points at Lin Howe, are simply amazing.”
The API is the cornerstone of the 9-year-old Public Schools Accountability Act, which established a statewide accountability system for public schools.
It is a numeric index that ranges from a low of 200 to a high of 1000. The 1999 API established the baseline for each school’s academic performance and an annual growth target. A school’s target is set at 5 percent of the difference between the school’s API and the statewide performance target of 800.
Among the notable items in the latest report for District schools is the fact that each of the five elementary schools has surpassed the statewide performance target of 800 with the exception of La Ballona, which fell three points short.
Nevertheless, the school more than doubled its growth target from last year, boosting scores by 13 points.
Lin Howe also was notable in that it tripled its growth target, increasing scores to 807.
Perhaps the most impressive upward move in scores came at the Middle School, which not only achieved 800 for the first time, it also increased scores an six times the growth target or 30 points.
“We will continue to focus on building a culture of continuous improvement at every campus,” said Dr. Coté, “not just in standardized testing, but in all facets of the educational experience for our students.”
Finally, El Marino Language School went from 905 last year to 903 this year.
Farragut went from 858 last year to 842 this year.
Culver City High School went from 751 last year to 750 this year.