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Three-Fourths of Local Schools Improved API Scores;
Two Schools Scored Highest in State

San Jose, CA -- Santa Clara County schools did better than schools in California overall on both state and federal measures of academic performance released today.

In Santa Clara County, 74% of the public schools (vs. 72% statewide) improved their Academic Performance Index (API) scores, reflecting gains made by nearly every grade on the state’s standardized tests last year.

Two schools, Faria Elementary in the Cupertino Union School District, and Millikin Elementary, in Santa Clara Unified School District, posted the highest API scores – 999 and 998 respectively -- of all non-charter public schools in California.

In addition, 67% of local schools (vs. 56% statewide) met their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) growth targets. Specifically:

• 75% of local schools met English-language arts targets (vs. 64% across the state)
• 83% met mathematics targets (vs. 78% across the state).

“Overall, this latest data shows that an upward trend in student achievement is continuing, with Santa Clara County students again outperforming students statewide,” said Colleen Wilcox, County Superintendent of Schools. “Additional data in September will provide still greater insights into performance by student subgroups.”

The API is a comprehensive measure of school performance on standardized tests and is the cornerstone of the state’s accountability system. The API index ranges from 200 to 1,000, with 800 set by the state as a target for all schools. “Base scores” are set in January of each year; “growth scores” are calculated in August.

In Santa Clara County, school districts with the highest “API Growth” scores, well over 800, were: Los Altos Elementary (949), Saratoga Union Elementary (941), Cupertino Union Elementary (920), Lakeside Joint Elementary (915) and Palo Alto Unified (904).

School districts with the lowest “API Growth” scores were Alum Rock (670), Franklin-McKinley (692), Luther Burbank (693), East Side Union High School (699) and Gilroy Unified (710).

School districts with the greatest increases from API base score to API growth score this year were Campbell Union High School (691 to 723), Luther Burbank (661 to 693), Orchard (687 to 722), Montebello (799 to 856), and Lakeside (836 to 915).

The AYP is the federal government’s accountability model which measures the percentage of students testing at “proficient” or better based on national standards.

Date last updated: August 31, 2005

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