District scores rise in 2003

Marisa O’Neil

Nearly all district schools showed improvement on last year’s

statewide tests, according to scores released Monday.

The base scores of the 2003 Academic Performance Index, on a scale

of 200 to 1,000, represent the latest data based on last year’s

standardized tests in California schools. In the Newport-Mesa Unified

School District, 22 of 29 schools showed improvement over last year’s

base scores.

The lowest-performing schools in the district -- Whittier, Wilson

and Pomona elementary schools and Estancia High School -- all showed

the biggest improvements. Those schools are on Costa Mesa’s

predominantly Latino Westside, where many students are learning

English and are socio-economically disadvantaged.

“Those improvements are good,” district spokeswoman Jane Garland

said. “Those scores aren’t where we want them to be yet, but their

growth is great.”

All four are listed as “program improvement schools” under the

federal No Child Left Behind Act, meaning they must take special

action to meet federal performance goals or risk losing money. The

state’s Academic Performance Index criteria are separate from that

used for No Child Left Behind.

The API scores are based on individual student performance in a

variety of standardized tests, including the California Standards

Test and California Achievement Test. The state Department of

Education released the latest results.

Scores at Wilson and Kaiser elementary schools each increased by

6.1%. Extra teacher training, tailoring instruction to students and

adding after-school programs have helped increase student performance

at Wilson, Principal Candy Sperling said.

“It’s not just one thing,” she said of the higher scores. “I think

it’s a well thought out plan and a lot of facets coming together. And

we’re seeing a lot more parent involvement.”

Parent involvement helped schools at the top end of the spectrum,

as well. Not surprisingly, the highest scores came from schools in

affluent Newport Beach and Corona del Mar neighborhoods.

Andersen Elementary School topped the list with a score of 920.

The state target is 800.

“We have extremely dedicated and bright children, hard-working

teachers and involved parents,” said Andersen Elementary School

Principal Mary Manos. “All of those work together. Our whole focus is

student success and positive behavior and together that helps us

achieve success.”

The district, as a whole, averaged 733.

In the statewide and similar school rankings, Harbor View and

Mariners elementary schools performed best. On a scale of one to 10,

they got a 10 when compared to schools statewide and 7 when compared

to similar schools in a group of 100.

Some schools, like Adams Elementary School, showed improvement in

their base scores but did not do as well in their statewide rankings.

“They had growth, but the people underneath them are growing too,”

said Peggy Anatol, director of curriculum and instruction for the

district. “Their base is looking good but so is everyone else’s. As

that bar keeps going up, schools have to continue exceptional

progress.”

Sonora Elementary School had the biggest drop in performance

scores, dipping 4.3% from last year. Principal Christine Anderson

said that because the testing data is so hard to interpret, she has

been having parent meetings to explain its importance.

“We shouldn’t have any problem getting back where we were,”

Anderson said. “There are so many ways to measure a child’s growth.

This is only one.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.