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Student Achievement
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LA CAÑADA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX (API), 1999-2005The Base Academic Performance Index (API) scores are released by the state annually. This score is used for comparing student academic growth in the following spring. The API score is figured through a weighted formula based on student performance on required standardized tests and the California High School Exit Exam. The weighting has changed each year since the inception of the API in 1999. This year, the state added the California Standards Test (CST) in science, grade five and the CST in history-social science, grade eight to the formula. The weight of the California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6) also was reduced to only include grades three and seven.
The API is a numeric score between 200 and 1000 given to individual schools and districts. A score of 800 is the statewide performance target. Since 1999, La Cañada Unified School District students have scored consistently among the highest schools in California . Each school surpassed the state target upon the inception of the API and the scores continue to improve.
API YEAR
LCUSD
La Cañada High School
La Cañada Elem. School
Palm Crest Elem. School
Paradise Canyon Elem. School
1999 Base
NA
858
883
879
869
2000 Growth
NA
868
905
901
893
2000 Base
NA
868
905
901
893
2001 Growth
NA
869
919
912
913
2001 Base
NA
858
912
905
906
2002 Growth
NA
875
920
923
911
2002 Base
886
865
917
914
901
2003 Growth
898
873
935
924
926
2003 Base
908
885
944
928
933
2004 Growth
911
893
956
930
926
2004 Base
906
890
953
923
923
2005 Growth
918
900
960
935
940
2005 California Standards Tests
Percent of Students Meeting or Exceeding State Target,
Proficient and Advanced LevelsEnglish-Language Arts (ELA)
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
LCUSD
84
81
94
88
83
86
81
84
79
74
Statewide
42
31
47
43
38
43
39
43
36
36
Math
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
Gen. Math
Alg. 1
Geom.
Alg. 2
H.S. Math
LCUSD
87
93
91
92
87
86
69
62
65
55
72
Statewide
56
54
50
44
40
37
22
19
26
26
45
History-Social Science
8 th
10 th
11 th
History-Social Science
World History
U. S. History
LCUSD
80
66
72
Statewide
31
31
37
Science
5 th
Biology
Earth Science
Chemistry
Physics
LCUSD
84
71
57
62
70
Statewide
28
32
23
27
31
LCUSD Scores High
La Cañada Unified School District students continue to perform among the top students in the state as demonstrated by the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE), the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program scores and the Academic Performance Index (API) released recently by the state.
The CAHSEE is given for the first time in the sophomore year. An impressive 99% of La Cañada High School’s 10th graders passed both the English-Language Arts and Mathematics portions during the test administration last spring. Students who have not yet passed may take the tests again in their junior and senior years. Passing both portions of the CAHSEE is a new state requirement in order to graduate from a California public high school beginning in the year 2006.
The most important part of the STAR Program is the California Standards Tests (CSTs) because these assessments tell how well students are performing as measured against the state content standards. These tests assess what students are expected to know and be able to do at each grade level. In the elementary grades, between 81% and 94% of students are meeting or exceeding the state target for English-Language Arts (ELA) in each grade level. Scores in mathematics are slightly higher at the elementary level with between 87% and 93% of students meeting or exceeding the state targets. The strongest overall LCUSD performance is in fourth grade where 94% of students in ELA and 91% of students in mathematics are meeting or exceeding the state target performance levels.
2005 California Standards Test, English-Language Arts (ELA)
Percent Meeting or Exceeding State Target, Proficient and Advanced Levels
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
LCUSD
84
81
94
88
83
86
81
84
79
74
Statewide
42
31
47
43
38
43
39
43
36
36
2005 California Standards Test, Mathematics
Percent Meeting or Exceeding State Target, Proficient and Advanced Levels
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
Gen. Math
Alg. 1
Geom.
Alg. 2
H.S. Math
LCUSD
87
93
91
92
87
86
69
62
65
55
72
Statewide
56
54
50
44
40
37
22
19
26
26
45
At the high school level, grades 7-11, La Cañada students scored significantly higher than the state averages in both ELA and mathematics. In almost all grade levels and subjects, La Cañada had approximately 40% more students scoring in the proficient and advanced categories than the statewide averages. The performance in seventh grade math shows the greatest difference. In seventh grade, 37% of students statewide meet or exceed the performance targets compared to 86% of La Cañada’s students.
Compared to the year 2000, student test scores in ELA have improved between 3% and 18% in every grade level, kindergarten through 10 th grade. The district has also seen improvement in math scores in second through eighth grades since 2002 with the strongest growth being 14% in seventh grade.
The second component of the STAR Program is the California Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6). Although less significant in the state's school accountability measures and not aligned with the California content standards, this basic skills test is used to compare how California students are doing in relation to students of the same grade level nationwide. In the 2004-2005 school year, these tests were only given to third and seventh graders. Scores for this assessment are given in National Percentile Ranks. The LCUSD scores for reading, language, mathematics and spelling on this assessment ranged from 74 to 86. Mathematics was the highest score for both grade levels at 86. A score of 50 is considered "average."
Another important indicator of school performance is the Academic Performance Index. For the first time all La Cañada Unified schools reached 900 or above. The state target is 800. Since 2004, all schools and the overall district calculation have shown improvement.
2004-2005 API Growth
School Site
2004 API
2005 API
Growth
La Cañada Elementary
953
960
+7
Palm Crest Elementary
923
935
+12
Paradise Canyon Elementary
923
940
+17
La Cañada High School
890
900
+10
La Cañada Unified
906
918
+12
The API is the most important measure of accountability for California public schools. From these base scores, the state develops statewide rankings of all schools and releases that information in the spring.
It is a combined effort of the staff, teachers, administrators, students, parents and community that contribute to the district’s high performance. Making all students successful will continue to be our goal. The district will continue to look carefully to identify gaps and find ways to help all students do their best.
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