Newport-Mesa schools still rank high

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- Schools in Newport-Mesa continue to shine overall when

compared to similar schools in the state, according to a revised report

released today by the California Department of Education.

In January, each school in the state received a numerical ranking to

allow for a comparison of similar schools. However, just weeks after the

report was released, the similar school ranking portion was recalled due

to faulty data.

The report, part of the Academic Performance Index mandated by the Public

Schools Accountability Act of 1999, lists a numeric score for each school

that must improve each year. It also includes two separate rankings that

schools can use to compare themselves both on a statewide level and among

100 facilities with similar characteristics.

Now, after retabulating data from across the state, the Department of

Education has released the new information allowing schools to see how

they are doing compared to schools with similar socioeconomic conditions.

The similar school ranking ranged from 1, the lowest performance compared

to similar schools, to a 10, the highest performance.

While some districts saw a marked difference in their ratings, schools in

the Newport-Mesa Unified School District barely shifted -- for the most

part remaining at the high end of the scale.

“There really aren’t any dramatic changes,” said Supt. Robert Barbot. “We

had a few that went up a little bit and some that went down a bit.”

With the new numbers, however, came the list of 100 similar schools for

each school in the district -- a tool that will be very helpful, said

Peggy Anatol, the director curriculum for the district.

Under the Public Schools Accountability Act, schools are required to

improve upon their overall Academic Performance Index score each year.

Anatol suggested that each principal look at their 100 like schools, find

the one with the highest score and give them a call.

It was a recommendation that Barbot endorsed.

“What [the report] really does help us with, is to clearly know how our

schools are doing in comparison,” Barbot said. “What are they doing

better? What are we doing better? What can we bring on board and vice

versa?”

The district will continue to study these reports, he said, and help the

schools to increase their overall academic index scores.

The district expects to see a whole new set of academic index scores in

September and then again in January, Anatol said.

“On the whole, I feel Newport-Mesa is still doing well,” she said.

“Overall, our growth is manageable -- some are high. We will continue to

help [schools improve].”

FYI

The new 1999 similar schools rankings compare each school to the 100 most

similar schools in California. They are ranked from 1 to 10 with 1 being

the lowest and 10 the highest.

Elementary schools 1999 similar school ranking

Adams 9

Andersen 10

California 7

College Park 7

Davis 6

Harbor View 10

Kaiser 7

Kaiser Primary 10

Killybrooke 8

Lincoln 9

Mariners 10

Newport 3

Newport Height 8

Paularino 7

Pomona 10

Rea 8

Sonora 8

Victoria 9

Whittier 9

Wilson 4

Middle Schools

Ensign 7

TeWinkle 9

High Schools

Corona del Mar 8

Costa Mesa 9

Estancia 6

Newport Harbor 9