The Garden Grove Unified School District posted strong gains on the Academic Performance Index (API), with 86 percent of schools recording growth from the previous year and – for the first time – the district-wide average API now surpasses the state target of 800.
According to the 2010 API Growth Report released this week (Sept. 13) by the state Department of Education, 54 of 63 schools recorded improvement on the statewide measure of school achievement and progress including 40 of 46 elementary schools, eight of 10 intermediate schools, and six of seven high schools.
Double-digit API increases were made by 29 elementary, two intermediate, and two high schools. Schools with API growth exceeding 30 points were Wakeham (+58), Cook (+42), Brookhurst and Morningside (+39), Rosita (+36), and Patton (+32) elementary schools. Top API gains in secondary schools were led by Lake Intermediate School (+22) and Rancho Alamitos High School (+17).
Based on the new scores, four additional district schools improved sufficiently to meet or exceed the statewide goal of 800 (Mitchell, Northcutt, and Rosita elementary schools, and Lake Intermediate School), and one more school, Patton, passing the 900 API mark where it joins the elite ranks with Allen and Barker elementary schools. In the GGUSD, 52 percent of schools are now at 800 or more, exceeding the average statewide of 46 percent.
Buoyed by the school API gains, the district’s overall API grew by 12 points to 802 and exceeds the state goal of 800.
“We continue headed in the right direction with strides on the API due to the hard work of our teachers, administrators, support staff, and students,” commented Supt. Laura Schwalm. “Even with our many challenges, the district will remain focused on student achievement and learning as the priorities.
“I am pleased with the API growth, but we still have a long way to go – with only 40 percent of district schools meeting their overall and subgroup API targets. We will briefly celebrate our successes, then roll up our sleeves and go back to work to improve our scores.”
The API is based on a scale of 200 to 1,000, with 800 being the target. In elementary and intermediate schools, the API is a composite number derived by scores on statewide assessments from last school year, with the greatest emphasis on the California Standards Test; while the API for high schools is weighted on results of the CST and the California High School Exit Examination.
A school’s annual growth target is set at five percent of the difference between the school’s base API score set in 2009-10 and the statewide performance goal of 800. Schools also must meet API goals for up to 11 subgroups including English learners, low-income students, and different ethnic categories.
To view the school API reports online visit the following website: http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/AcntRpt2010/2010GrowthDstApi.aspx?cYear=&allcds=3066522&cChoice=2010GDst2
The Garden Grove Unified School District serves most of Garden Grove and portions of Santa Ana, Westminster, Fountain Valley, Cypress, Stanton, and Anaheim.
