75% OF SCHOOLS HIT STATE GOALS; 25% MAY PROFIT.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Seventy-five percent of the schools in the Santa Clarita Valley met their Academic Performance Index growth targets, but just 25 percent may be eligible for monetary incentives.

The scores, released by the state Thursday, are calculated based on a complicated formula that relies on results of the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program and school demographics.

The school showing the most growth in the valley was Live Oak Elementary in Castaic, increasing its API by 61 points to a score of 756.

``We're just extremely excited,'' Principal Janene Maxon said. ``We've been celebrating all year.''

Established through the Public Schools Accountability Act in 1999, the API has become the cornerstone of the statewide accountability system for California public schools.

API is a numeric index that ranges from a low of 200 to a high of 1,000, with a statewide performance target of 800.

The 2001 results established the current baseline and academic growth targets for each school's academic performance. A school's annual growth target is set at 5 percent of the difference between the school's base API and the statewide performance target of 800.

Standing out this year were small declines seen at schools that have either already met or are near the state recommendation.

Though each of the 13 schools in the Saugus Union School District improved its API score last year, this year's report shows just seven making the mark, while the remaining six saw a decline.

``There's always the concern for a regression toward the mean,'' said Joan Lucid, assistant superintendent in Saugus. ``Overall, our scores are phenomenal. You're always at that risk for trying to maintain that.''

All but two of the Saugus schools have already tested above the state's threshold of 800 or more points.

Cedarcreek Elementary School, with the lowest score in the Saugus district, showed the largest gain by jumping 23 points.

``It's a concerted team effort to provide the best instructional programs and meet the needs of our students on a day-to-day basis,'' Lucid said.

In the Sulphur Springs School District, two campuses showed large gains and might qualify for monetary rewards. Mint Canyon Elementary gained 25 points taking it to 715 and Valley View Elementary jumped 31 points to 788.

In the William S. Hart Union High School District, Placerita Junior High dropped 31 points from 793 to 762.

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API RESULTS

Source: California Department of Education