Benicia Schools Continue Tradition of Strong Test Scores

Benicia students scored higher than the state average in English and math, according to just-released standardized test results.

Some 4.7 million students took the 2011 Standardized Testing and Reporting assessment, called STAR. 54 percent of them scored proficient or better in English-language arts and 50 percent in math, according to the California Department of Education.

students surpassed those averages – 72.3 percent of Benicia students scored grade-level or higher in English and 62.4 percent were at grade level or higher in math.

In Solano County, where 49,452 students were tested, 53.5 percent scored at least proficient in English and 47.3 percent were proficient or advanced  in math, below the state average.

In Contra Costa County, scores were better: 60.6 percent proficient or better in language and 55.1 percent in math among those tested.
Students in second through 11th grades are tested in several subjects on this scale: far below basic, below basic, basic, proficient or advanced.

State scores are the highest since the program launched in 2003. That first year, just 35 percent of California students ranked proficient in math and English.

“The significant and sustained improvements we’ve seen for nine consecutive years prove how hard teachers, school employees, administrators and parents are working to help students achieve despite budget cuts that have affected our schools,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement.

“Their heroic teamwork is paying off for California.”

Though overall test scores went up, an achievement gap remains.
Black and Latino students continue to lag behind their white and Asian peers. Students from poor families or those for whom English is a second language also struggle to keep up, numbers show.

STAR scores are used to come up with schools' Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress report. Dropout and exit exam rates also factor into the API and AYP assessments.
Dropout rates were released Friday, those for the California High School Exit Exam are due out next week and the AYP and API scores on Aug. 31.

•    View Benicia High's scores here. To see results for other schools, go here and enter the name of the school whose results you want to see.