|
Academic
Performance Index (API) scores were up this year for all schools in
the Yosemite Joint Union High School District and the Coarsegold Union
School District.
“This is wonderful news,” comments Bill McCabe, superintendent of
both districts. “The scores are reflective of the extraordinary efforts
of our students, staff and administrators. Everyone is to be commended
for their hard work.”
The CUSD gained 17 points overall and the YJUHSD gained 69 points.
The largest gain in Madera County was achieved by Evergreen High School
with 149 points. The independent study school’s score increased from
495 to 644. “This is an indication of how hard the teachers and students
work to be successful,” comments EHS Principal Roberta Tackett.
Mountain View High School’s API increased 76 points from 423 to 499.
“That’s awesome,” commented Principal Tom Fiormonti.
Yosemite High School’s score increased 60 points from 704 to 764 prompting
Principal Steve Raupp to say “The 60-point growth is directly related
to the hard work that teachers have done to align curriculum and instruction
with the California content standards and the positive attitude that
our students have about school.”
Glacier High School, a charter school in the YJUHSD, posted an API
of 809. Principal Mike Cox says “this is testimony to the students’
hard work and the families’ strong involvement. We also have a mighty
fine teacher.”
An API of 1000 is the highest possible; the state wants every school
to reach 800 at least.
Rivergold Elementary School surpassed the 800 mark with an API of
822 up from 792 the year before. According to Principal Bob Rose,
this is the highest API for an elementary school in Madera, Merced,
Mariposa and Fresno counties. “Hats off to everyone’s hard work,”
he says, “once again, Rivergold Hawks fly high.”
Coarsegold Elementary raised its API by one point, from 764 to 765.
Schools with less than 10 students in a grade do not have their APIs
reported because of student confidentiality. This includes Meadowbrook
Community Day school in the Coarsegold district and Raymond and Ahwahnee
high schools in the Yosemite district. Foothill High School did not
have an API recorded for last year but achieved 545 in 2002-03.
“It speaks very well of our students and staff that all schools raised
their scores,” says McCabe. “I congratulate everyone for their hard
work.”
Statewide, 90 percent of schools improved their scores. State Superintendent
of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said “This is terrific news.
I am very proud of our entire education community and am encouraged
by the outstanding academic progress our schools are making. These
scores show that when given clear standards, even if they are rigorous,
our students can and will learn the curriculum.”
The API is the cornerstone of the statewide accountability system
established through the Public Schools Accountability Act in 1999.
The API is a numeric index that ranges from a low of 200 to a high
of 1000. The 2002 results established the current baseline and academic
growth targets for each school’s academic performance.
A school’s annual growth target is set at five percent of the difference
between the school’s base API and the statewide performance target
of 800.
School
News Home
|