School Tests Improve for State and SLUSD

Most schools in the saw their scores rise in statewide exams given last year.

Six of the district's 17 campuses improved their scores from a year ago, and five schools scored above the state's target index.

The state superintendent's office released the so-called API test scores Wednesday.

The API is used by the state to determine how districts and individual schools are performing in English-language arts and mathematics.

The score is determined by results from the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) test and the California High School Exit Exam.

The target for schools to meet is an API score of 800.

The San Lorenzo Unified District scored 741 in the 2011 test results. That was an two-point improvement over its 2010 score of 739.

Despite getting some of the highest scores, Asian and Filipino students scored a few points lower than they did last year.

Black and African American students scored 673, an increase of 9 points, while Hispanic and Latino students came in at 709, a rise of 5 points.

For more district-wide test results, go to this website.

At the school level, had the highest score at 859, 15 points higher than 2010.

Other schools that topped the 800 mark were , , Dayton Elementary and .

East Bay Arts High had a score of 690, a 59 point increase from the previous year. It was one of the biggest increases among all the schools since 2010.

For more school results, visit the website.

In the state, 49 percent of California schools exceeded or met their API target. That is a record.

API scores showed continued improvement across the board, with statewide growth of 11 points, propelled by a 14-point gain among English learners and Hispanic students and a 10-point gain among African American students. Asian and white students posted gains of 8 and 7 points.

The API scores tend to go down at the higher grade levels.

Fifty-five percent of elementary schools, 43 percent of middle schools and 28 percent of high schools met or surpassed the state API target of 800.

“I applaud the hard work our students, teachers, parents, school employees and administrators are doing to improve — even in the face of severe cuts to school funding,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. “At school after school, and among every significant ethnic group, California’s students are performing better than ever. The failure here is in our politics, not our public schools.”

Analisa Harangozo contributed to this report.