Local High School’s Optimistic Despite Testing Below Statewide Target

The new Academic Performance Index (API) scores are set to come out in the fall and South Gate’s biggest High School’s are eagerly awaiting to see the progress they have made.

The API measures the academic achievement of schools. The range of API scores are from 200 to 1,000 points, and the statewide target is 800. A higher score will indicate that more students within the schools are performing at or above targets.  The scores are calculated yearly based on scores from California Standards Tests and the California High School Exit Exam.

Both and managed to increase their overall scores last year. However, both are still below the statewide goal.

For its 2010-2011 API scores South Gate High School surpassed its growth target of 8 by growing by 19 points, and received a final score of 676.

“[South Gate High School] showed growth of more than three times its annual growth target,” said Rachel L. Perry, Director of Analysis, Measurement and Accountability Division at the California Department of Education. “But it is still more than 100 points below the state target of 800 points.”

German Cerda, principal of South Gate High School, believes there is no justification for being below average, and emphasized that the school is working hard to increase its score.

“There is no excuse to being below,” said Cerda, who added that he is optimistic about breaking a higher score next year. “Next year you will see a bigger gain, our goal is to break 700, but eventually we will get to 800.”

For its 2010-2011 API scores South East High School surpassed its growth target of 9 by 14 points, and received a final score of 644.

“[South East High School] showed growth of about 2 -1/2 times its annual growth target,” said Perry. “But is also well below the statewide target of 800 points.”

Maria Sotomayor, principal of South East High School, believes that it is difficult for her to point out a main reason for her school’s score. Further stating that funding issues and teacher layoffs make it difficult for her 7-year-old school to attain higher scores. This is despite having had success in going over their growth target.

“As a school we have had had a high number of [layoffs],” said Sotomayor, who added that that the integration and training of new teachers has slowed down the progress of the school. ”It is definitely a challenge.”

Sotomayor promises though that the next scores will show an improvement.

“We expect to see a significant change in our API,” said Sotomayor.

Despite the improvement shown by South East High School there are some parents who are not happy with the fact that it attained a lower overall API score then South Gate High School.

“This worries me because both schools have essentially the same resources,” said Martha Ibarra, whose daughter is sophomore at South East High School. “There isn’t much of a difference in student capacity [between both of the schools] so why is one meeting more of the criteria than the other?” 

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