MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOLS SHOW MOST GAINS ON API.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

Reflecting statewide trends, the number of Los Angeles Unified District elementary schools scoring in the top half of the state's annual Academic Performance Index ranking dropped slightly last year, while middle and high schools improved their standings.

San Fernando Valley schools bucked the trend, with all grade levels ratcheting up the number of schools that received a ranking of 6 or above on the state's 1-to-10 scale, according to results released Tuesday.

``The middle and senior high schools did slightly better than the elementary schools this year,'' said Esther Wong, assistant superintendent of planning, assessment and research at LAUSD, adding that a lackluster performance by third-graders likely led to the elementary school decline. ``The only grade level we flattened out a bit was the third grade, but that was across the state.''

Thirty-one percent of LAUSD elementary schools ranked in the top half of the API, down 2 percentage points from last year. But 22 percent of district middle schools ranked 6 or above, up 4.5 percentage points from last year, and about 26 percent of high schools, up 5 percentage points from 2004.

High school gains were attributed to an increasing focus on getting students to pass the high school exit exam, required by the state for graduation.

All San Fernando Valley grade levels gained over last year, but high schools stood out with nearly 32 percent of them ranking 6 or above, up an impressive 7 percentage points from 2004. About 49 percent of the Valley's elementary schools ranked in the top half, as did 36 percent of middle schools - both up about 3 percentage points from last year.

Districtwide, most schools struggled to reach or surpass the API benchmark score of 800, and there was a healthy jump in the number of schools that met the goal. Overall, 96 schools out of 629 scored 800 or above in 2005, up from 68 in the previous year.

The API is California's accountability test used to determine whether state schools are meeting federal benchmarks under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, President George W. Bush's signature education reform initiative.

Statewide, schools continued to make strides toward reaching the goal of 800 points on the state achievement test, which ranges from 200 to 1,000 points.

The percentage of the state's schools at or above 800 rose from the year before, with 31.6 percent of elementary schools at or above the benchmark, along with 20.7 percent of middle schools and 11.8 percent of high schools.

Valley schools like Pomelo Drive and Castlebay Lane elementary continue to be among the highest-performing in the district, with API scores of 906 and 904, respectively.

Both schools attributed their success to a dedicated staff that works long hours, involved parents, and high expectations placed on students.

Castlebay Principal Vivian Ihori said a strong collaboration between students helped weave different subjects together to make learning relevant to students.

The school's fifth-graders are working on recreating a model of Boston in the days of Paul Revere. Using graph paper, they are utilizing math concepts to build models to scale. They're also learning a social studies lesson, as well as language arts.

Their in-school and after-school programs have helped close the achievement gap between white and minority students and moved English-language learners to regular classes, Ihori said.

``One of our challenges here is we have a whole spectrum of students - English learners, special needs, magnet - and meeting the needs of all these kids is a lot of work,'' she said. ``I have a staff dedicated to doing that, and parents that work together with us as a team. Everyone focuses on the children and helping them to achieve.''

Pomelo's kids spend time in a 3,000-square-foot garden one period a week - an experience that's tied into their curriculum.

``We've pulled social studies, science, the standards and reading and tied it in to what's going on in the garden. We try to create context for students,'' Principal Masha Gardner said. ``Students don't learn much in isolation, but when you tie it to something else in real life, they retain that knowledge.''

While the ranking of the district's elementary schools fell slightly in the latest results, elementary schools - the target of widespread policy, resources and professional development aimed at increasing achievement - continue to show the greatest improvement in rank since the API test began in 1999, district officials said.

Elementary schools ranked 5 and above increased 10.8 percent since 1999; middle schools increased 3.7 percent and high schools 8.1 percent.

``Elementary schools are improving at a more rapid pace and we're getting more up in the two highest state ranks of 9 and 10,'' Wong said. ``Middle schools are improving at a steady pace and high schools between 2004-05 saw an increase.''

Education officials attributed the strong performance of high schools to the emphasis placed on having students pass the California High School Exit Exam. The CAHSEE results are included in API results for high schools.

``I attribute that dramatic rise in high school test scores to the High School Exit Exam and the additional remedial and supplemental opportunities for our students is clearly making a difference,'' said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, emphasizing that high schools needed to continue to improve.

``For high schools to increase the state rank ... shows they are making some gains. Because they're passing the CAHSEE contributed to the scores going up,'' Wong said. ``I think our high schools are on the right road. They have a long way to go, but continue to improve.''

The number of LAUSD elementary and middle schools that scored a 1 increased over last year. About 18 percent of the elementary schools and 37 percent of middle schools scored a 1 - both up 3 percentage points from last year.

High schools bucked the trend, with 25 percent scoring a 1, down 5 percentage points from last year.

In neighboring Ventura County, roughly 75 percent of schools posted APIs of 800 or better, up from 33 percent last year. Conejo Valley Unified, Moorpark Unified and Oak Park posted districtwide scores over 800.

Of those 186 local schools, 35 scored in the top 10 percent of schools statewide. Twenty-four schools are currently ranked in the top 20 percent in the state. Overall, 60 percent of schools scored in the top half of the statewide ranking.

``The results show again that our schools are performing better than the average school in California,'' said Charles Weis, county superintendent of schools. ``I'm very pleased and proud ... The schools are doing a great job.''

Weis said he was particularly impressed with how the high schools are performing. Foothill Technology in Ventura, Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley and Moorpark High School in Moorpark all ranked 10.

In Conejo Valley, three of four middle schools - Colina, Sequoia and Redwood - ranked 10.

Staff Writer Angie Valencia-Martinez contributed to this report.

Naush Boghossian, [phone]

naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Castlebay Lane School third-grader Jessica Cuadra holds up a picture she drew in a group project about conflict resolution mediation designed to build character in a student. The school scored 904 on the 200-to-1,000 API scale.

(2) Sarah Jung's fifth-grade class works on a group history project at Castlebay Lane Elementary School, one of the highest-ranked LAUSD schools in the API ratings.

(3) Castlebay Lane Elementary School teacher Phylis Pasoff helps third-grader Michael Rosillo with his in-class project.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

API RESULTS

Source: California Department of Education