Carlsbad Schools' API Scores Fluctuated

Recently released Academic Performance Index (API) numbers show that all schools in the Carlsbad Unified School District achieved scores over 800 again this year, although several schools recorded significant fluctuations from the previous year.

Overall, the Carlsbad Unified School District gained two points, growing from a 2009 Base API of 857 to this year's 2010 Growth API of 859.

Scores for five of Carlsbad's nine elementary schools changed by double-digits from last year. Aviara Oaks and Jefferson were both up by 13 points, while Buena Vista dropped 21 points, Calavera Hills lost 19 points and Kelly declined by 15 points.

Size was a factor in the rise and fall of API numbers at many of the district's elementary schools, said Suzanne O'Connell, Carlsbad's assistant superintendent for instructional services. For example, Buena Vista, the smallest elementary school in the district, experienced a 64-point increase in its API score last year, she said. This year, it dropped 21 points.

"To maintain that kind of growth would be tough," she said. "The fact that they slipped back some, which could be one or two students when you have a school that small, was not entirely a surprise." Buena Vista had 163 students included in the 2010 Growth API calculations.

The district's highest-performing elementary school, Pacific Rim, maintained its level of achievement from last year, gaining one point over its 2009 Base API of 970 to reach a 2010 Growth API of 971. This places the school sixth on the list of San Diego County's top 10 elementary schools.

The state's API numbers, which can be found on the California Department of Education website at cde.ca.gov, are compiled based primarily on the performance of public school students in grades 2-11 who take California Standards Tests each spring.

The API is a number between 200 and 1,000 that rates each school's academic performance. The statewide target, set 10 years ago, is 800. Any API number over 900 is considered outstanding.

Subgroups

In addition to county, district and school scores, API results also include API numbers for each school's demographic subgroups of students who are categorized by race, ethnicity and background. The purpose for this is to provide schools with data that can help close the achievement gap that typically exists between white and Asian students and students in other subgroups.

Subgroups include: African-American, American Indian or Alaska native, Asian, Filipino, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, white, two or more races, socio-economically disadvantaged, English learners and students with disabilities.

O'Connell said California's assessment program is useful but it's the subgroup information rather than a school's overall API number that tells the full story.

"The process of identifying progress of your subgroups has been enormously helpful," she said. "[It's] the ability that we now have to drill down to that individual student, and that's the only way we're going to be successful is one student at a time." O'Connell said it was "amazing how in 10 years that focus has gone to individual students."

What doesn't help, she said, is when excellent schools face penalties under the federal system because progress isn't being made fast enough. "We take pride in the progress that our subgroups are making," said O'Connell, noting that the state uses a system that rewards growth and improvement over time, in contrast to the federal system. "We're hoping the federal will move more toward a growth model."

At four of the district's nine elementary schools—Aviara Oaks, Hope, Kelly and Pacific Rim—only the white student subgroups reported enough students to be statistically significant.

Four subgroups—Hispanic, white, economically disadvantaged and English learners—were reported to be statistically significant at three schools: Calavera Hills, Jefferson and Poinsettia. Notable gains were shown in API scores at Calavera Hills for English learners who grew by 40 points, at Jefferson whose Hispanic students gained 39 points and whose low-income students increased 42 points, and at Poinsettia whose economically disadvantaged gained 29 points.

Three subgroups—Hispanic, white and economically disadvantaged—were reported to be statistically significant at two schools: Buena Vista and Magnolia. At both schools, all three subgroups lost ground this year, with the economically disadvantaged losing 30 points at each of the schools.

O'Connell said examining these numbers closely is a high priority for principals this month. "It's one of the things that all of our principals do between now and the October board meeting," she said. "They have to sit down with their staff and analyze their results."

She said they ask themselves what the numbers tell them and explore what they need to do differently. "It's a constantly evolving process," she said.

O'Connell said many of her district's children come to kindergarten ready and eager to learn. "Our families do a very good job of preparing the kids for school," she said. "We feel like we're a very fortunate district."

Top 10 San Diego County Elementary Schools

Rank            API            School                        District

1            983            Torrey Pines            SD Unified

2            982            La Jolla                      SD Unified

3            981            Ocean Air                  Del Mar

4            974            Bird Rock                 SD Unified

5            973            Sage Canyon           Del Mar

6        971         Pacific Rim        Carlsbad

7            965            Del Mar Heights     Del Mar

7            965            Sycamore Ridge      Del Mar

8            963            Solana Pacific          Solana Beach

9            957            Dingeman                  SD Unified

Source: Calif. Dept. of Education

This ends Part One. Part Two, tomorrow, discusses achievement at Carlsbad's middle and high schools.