District scores surpass county

Students in the Laguna Beach Unified School District have a lot to be proud of. Test scores released in recent weeks show students at all grade levels surpassed county and state averages by substantial margins in standardized tests.

In the state’s Academic Performance Index (API), the state and county average scores were 721 and 773, respectively, out of a possible 1,000. The district’s average was 846, and no single school scored below the state or county average.

Every school in the district had scores higher than 800 points, with Top of the World Elementary topping the list at 903. El Morro Elementary was next at 871, Thurston Middle School had 852 and Laguna Beach High School had a score of 811.

“All in all, a very nice picture,” Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Nancy Hubbell said.

Top of the World has been over the 900 mark for two years running, Hubbell said; she called the score phenomenal.

In addition, the district’s Latino and socioeconomically disadvantaged students improved by leaps and bounds.

The state’s formula for required improvements in those groups required the former subgroup to have improved by three points and the latter to improve by five points.

Remarkably, the former was up by 18 points and the latter increased by 22 points, also putting both groups above county and state averages.

Irvine Unified School District topped the county, with an 888-point districtwide average.

Laguna Beach High School students also earned high marks on the California High School Exit Exam.

Compared to a 76% pass rate statewide in math and 77% in English, Laguna students had a 93% and 94% pass rate, respectively.

The high school’s juniors, who will graduate in 2009, took the test this spring while in their sophomore year. They may retake it as necessary.

Previously, every student in the classes of 2006 and 2007 passed the exam, which is required for high school students to receive their diplomas.