County High School Students Improve Scores in Reading, Math

High school seniors in San Diego County improved their reading and math scores this year, once again surpassing the statewide average on a standardized test designed to measure how California’s students are faring.

Countywide, the 12th-graders increased their CAP (California Assessment Program) score by 4 points in reading, exceeding the statewide average by 14 points, and their math score by 3 points, 13 more than the state average.

“The results,” said Thomas C. Boysen, the county superintendent, “should give us energy and enthusiasm and confidence for what we are doing because the scores have gone up significantly. And it is important that the areas we are talking about--reading and math--are the two vital ones that underpin all the other kinds of learning whether its history or science or government or economics.” Twelve of the county’s school districts scored at or above the statewide average of 251 points in reading. In math, the statewide average was 260, and the scores for 11 school districts were higher than that.

A total of 400 is possible in both reading and math. The county average in reading was 265 and in math 273.

Four county school districts scored below the statewide average in reading, and five school districts scored below the math average.

The combined reading and math scores for students statewide increased by 4 points over the 1988-89 school year and by 21 points over the last six years. San Diego County students increased their combined scores by 3 points from last year and by 21 points over six years.

The scores were announced by Boysen at a press conference Tuesday at the County Education Office.

The CAP test was given to high school seniors throughout the state in December. Students answered multiple choice questions in math and reading. They also were required to write essays and, for the first time, were asked to respond to an open-ended mathematics question. The scores for the essays will not be released until late May or early June.

Boysen attributed the rise in student’s scores to changes in the schools’ curricula. The schools are now teaching skills that will better prepare students for the world beyond the classroom, he said.

The CAP tests were redesigned three years ago to reflect curricula changes, Boysen said. In reading, more attention has been given to the interpretation of passages rather than the simple recognition of facts about the reading selections. And, by adding a mathematics question in which a student has to explain how the answer is derived--rather than simply solving the problem--the process of learning becomes just as important as the answer.

This is important, Boysen said, because high school seniors entering the work force have to be able to read manuals and, if they are college bound, they must be able to read difficult texts.

In reading, Coronado lead the county’s districts with a score of 345. It was followed by San Dieguito, Poway, Carlsbad, Escondido, Julian, San Marcos, Grossmont, Vista, Ramona and Fallbrook. San Diego city schools equaled the statewide average of 251. The Borrego Springs, Mountain Empire, Oceanside and Sweetwater school districts scored below the statewide average.

With a score of 328 in math, San Dieguito topped the county’s districts. It was followed by Coronado, Poway, Carlsbad, Julian, San Marcos, Borrego Springs, Escondido, Grossmont, San Diego city and Vista.

The Mountain Empire, Fallbrook, Ramona, Sweetwater and Oceanside school districts scored below the statewide average of 260.

Last year’s CAP scores revealed that the county’s reading scores had decreased by 3 points from the 1987-88 score of 264. Although the scores were still higher than the statewide average, Boysen warned parents and teachers at that time not too pat themselves on the back too hard.

This year, however, Boysen said, “I think they deserve a pat on the back. But I don’t think we’ve arrived.”

Students still need to spend more time doing homework, Boysen said. “All the surveys show that students spend more time watching television,” Boysen said. “Time (spent on homework) is a big variable in learning.”

The schools, he said, have increased their efforts, but there is still work to be done.

California Assessment Test Scores HOW TO READ THE SCORES Here are the 12th-grade California Assessment Program reading and math scores for high schools in San Diego County. The tests are administered annually to high school seniors throughout the state and are meant to show how schools and districts, not individual students, are performing. State education officials have set a goal of three points of growth per year.

Districts are in boldface; individual schools are in lightface. Three years of test results are given. The first line of numbers contains 1989-90 test results; the second and third lines refer to 1988-89 and 1987-88 results.

The scores are reported on a scale from 100 to about 400. The average score statewide in 1989-90 was 251 in reading and 260 in math.

The rank that follows each score allows comparisons to all other districts or schools statewide. All schools and districts are ranked on a scale of 1 to 99 with a median rank of 50. For example, Carlsbad High School has a rank of 78 in reading and 82 in math, which means it scored considerably higher than most other high schools in the state in both areas.

SES is a measure of a school’s or a district’s socioeconomic status. It is based on student reports of parents’ education level. Each school and district is assigned a number ranging from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating parents who did not complete high school and 5 indicating those with advanced degrees. A 3 means that most parents in the school or district attended some college.

% LEP is the percentage of students who are limited-English proficient, which means they are not native English speakers and are not yet fluent in English. The average California school has 7% LEP students.

In some districts in which only one school is listed, the district and school averages may be different. The reason is that the district average included the scores of a large number of continuation school students.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Reading Math Background Score Rank Score Rank %SES %LEP Borrego Springs Unified 89-90 250 49 279 70 2.6 4.0 88-89 279 76 261 55 2.6 0 87-88 275 72 315 95 3.0 0 Borrego Springs 89-90 250 50 279 68 2.6 4.0 88-89 279 75 261 53 2.6 0 87-88 275 71 315 92 3.0 0

Carlsbad Unified 89-90 290 82 295 80 3.5 5.7 88-89 270 65 294 87 3.4 2.0 87-88 287 80 265 67 3.4 0 Carlsbad 89-90 289 78 299 82 3.5 6.0 88-89 273 71 295 82 3.4 2.1 87-88 290 80 269 67 3.4 0 La Palma 89-90 301 86 228 24 3.1 0 88-89 165 5 228 27 3.4 0 87-88 247 47 195 11 3.2 0

Coronado Unified 89-90 345 98 320 94 3.9 0 88-89 318 95 319 95 3.9 2.0 87-88 311 93 270 70 4.0 0 Coronado 89-90 345 97 320 91 3.9 0 88-89 318 93 319 93 3.9 2.0 87-88 311 90 270 69 4.0 0

Escondido Union 89-90 288 80 278 69 3.2 3.3 88-89 266 63 263 56 3.3 2.2 87-88 281 76 263 65 3.3 1.2 Escondido 89-90 266 62 275 65 2.9 2.7 88-89 248 50 253 47 3.1 3.4 87-88 276 71 246 47 3.0 3.5 Orange Glen 89-90 291 79 278 68 3.1 3.6 88-89 235 40 254 49 3.2 1.1 87-88 265 61 268 66 3.3 .5 San Pasqual 89-90 307 89 291 76 3.7 4.0 88-89 311 92 285 74 3.6 2.6 87-88 315 92 284 80 3.7 0 Valley 89-90 257 55 213 14 3.0 0 88-89 304 89 228 27 2.6 0 87-88 215 23 199 13 3.0 0

Fallbrook Union 89-90 257 56 255 47 3.1 3.4 88-89 264 62 262 55 3.1 .7 87-88 281 76 268 69 3.4 0 Fallbrook 89-90 268 64 263 52 3.2 3.7 88-89 273 71 271 63 3.2 .7 87-88 294 82 281 77 3.5 0 Ivy 89-90 155 2 173 3 2.4 0 88-89 184 11 177 5 2.3 0 87-88 155 3 146 1 2.6 0

Grossmont Union 89-90 275 70 273 66 3.2 3.7 88-89 272 69 273 69 3.3 1.7 87-88 262 59 258 57 3.2 1.7 El Cajon Valley 89-90 218 26 230 26 2.6 9.5 88-89 241 45 234 32 2.7 0 87-88 239 40 230 33 2.7 11.4 El Capitan 89-90 261 58 266 55 3.1 .5 88-89 253 54 264 56 3.1 2.5 87-88 250 50 248 48 3.1 0 Granite Hills 89-90 293 81 278 68 3.2 0 88-89 254 55 260 52 3.2 0 87-88 268 64 265 63 3.2 .7 Grossmont 89-90 289 78 294 78 3.5 .8 88-89 282 77 296 83 3.6 1.0 87-88 281 74 282 78 3.4 .5 Helix 89-90 298 84 290 75 3.2 3.7 88-89 305 90 296 83 3.4 2.6 87-88 295 83 288 82 3.4 1.0 Monte Vista 89-90 284 75 287 73 3.4 .5 88-89 305 90 289 78 3.5 1.0 87-88 292 81 278 74 3.4 1.8 Mt. Miguel 89-90 254 52 253 43 3.0 12.6 88-89 276 73 262 54 2.9 4.4 87-88 255 53 242 43 2.7 1.6 Santana 89-90 262 59 257 47 3.1 3.4 88-89 270 68 269 62 3.1 .2 87-88 220 27 226 29 2.9 .2 Valhalla 89-90 312 90 298 81 3.4 5.0 88-89 256 56 285 74 3.6 4.0 87-88 264 60 263 61 3.6 1.2

Julian Union 89-90 284 77 289 77 3.2 0 88-89 299 89 254 50 3.1 0 87-88 295 85 215 18 3.2 0 Julian 89-90 284 75 289 74 3.2 0 88-89 299 85 254 49 3.1 0 87-88 295 83 215 19 3.2 0

Mountain Empire Unified 89-90 249 48 257 49 2.9 13.6 88-89 246 49 229 25 2.8 11.9 87-88 218 20 238 37 3.0 0 Mountain Empire 89-90 249 49 257 47 2.9 13.6 88-89 246 49 229 28 2.8 11.9 87-88 218 25 238 38 3.0 0

Oceanside Unified 89-90 242 42 247 39 2.9 13.4 88-89 241 45 230 26 2.9 .6 87-88 252 51 248 49 3.0 2.4 El Camino 89-90 251 50 260 50 3.2 6.5 88-89 265 63 249 43 3.0 1.1 87-88 268 64 263 61 3.2 3.3 Oceanside 89-90 229 34 230 26 2.4 22.6 88-89 213 25 209 16 2.7 0 87-88 224 29 227 30 2.7 1.1

Poway Unified 89-90 306 92 305 88 3.8 .6 88-89 316 95 309 92 3.9 .3 87-88 324 97 309 94 3.8 .4 Mt. Carmel 89-90 301 86 308 87 3.8 0 88-89 311 92 310 89 3.9 .4 87-88 335 97 317 93 3.9 .5 Poway 89-90 314 91 304 85 3.8 .9 88-89 321 94 309 88 3.9 .2 87-88 314 91 302 90 3.8 .4

Ramona Unified 89-90 260 61 255 47 3.0 .7 88-89 262 62 260 54 3.1 2.3 87-88 248 49 263 65 3.2 .7 Montecito 89-90 269 64 247 38 2.5 2.8 88-89 279 75 220 22 2.4 0 87-88 204 17 246 47 3.1 0 Ramona 89-90 258 56 257 47 3.0 .4 88-89 260 60 263 55 3.1 2.5 87-88 253 52 265 63 3.2 .8

San Diego Unified 89-90 251 50 272 64 3.2 6.9 88-89 250 53 270 65 3.2 6.3 87-88 251 50 263 65 3.3 6.7 Clairemont 89-90 229 34 248 39 2.7 7.2 88-89 247 50 272 65 2.7 9.1 87-88 231 34 230 33 2.7 23.3 Crawford 89-90 208 21 241 33 2.6 7.8 88-89 210 23 247 42 2.9 19.1 87-88 194 12 237 38 2.8 17.9 Gompers 89-90 321 92 347 96 3.4 0 88-89 293 83 333 95 3.3 0 87-88 362 98 347 98 3.7 0 Henry 89-90 280 72 294 78 3.6 4.6 88-89 268 66 288 76 3.5 2.3 87-88 266 62 283 79 3.6 4.9 Hoover 89-90 189 11 225 22 2.4 28.5 88-89 177 8 220 22 2.3 12.2 87-88 200 15 228 31 2.5 11.3 Kearny 89-90 185 10 215 15 2.5 29.5 88-89 205 20 240 37 2.7 17.6 87-88 205 18 232 34 2.7 27.8 La Jolla 89-90 326 93 334 94 3.9 5.3 88-89 308 91 319 93 3.8 1.8 87-88 326 95 324 95 4.0 2.3 Lincoln 89-90 167 5 164 2 2.7 7.5 88-89 191 13 185 7 2.7 11.2 87-88 163 5 172 5 2.7 3.3 Madison 89-90 260 58 289 74 3.2 2.9 88-89 247 50 264 56 3.2 1.3 87-88 228 31 256 54 3.3 3.5 Mira Mesa 89-90 266 62 292 77 3.4 .7 88-89 268 66 289 78 3.5 1.3 87-88 270 67 280 76 3.5 1.7 Mission Bay 89-90 255 53 283 71 3.1 2.3 88-89 264 63 271 63 3.2 5.3 87-88 282 75 263 61 3.3 4.3 Morse 89-90 248 49 264 54 3.1 7.4 88-89 249 50 252 46 3.1 4.1 87-88 234 36 243 44 3.1 3.0 Point Loma 89-90 246 47 274 64 3.2 5.2 88-89 247 50 277 68 3.2 4.7 87-88 270 67 275 72 3.3 4.2 San Diego 89-90 224 31 244 36 2.4 9.3 88-89 208 22 230 29 2.5 23.0 87-88 220 27 245 46 2.5 13.7 Serra 89-90 263 60 271 62 3.4 1.6 88-89 262 61 279 70 3.3 1.7 87-88 248 48 258 56 3.4 2.1 University City 89-90 279 71 310 87 3.8 2.4 88-89 278 74 309 88 3.9 2.0 87-88 289 79 303 90 3.8 1.4

San Dieguito Union 89-90 322 95 328 95 4.0 .2 88-89 312 94 334 96 3.8 1.1 87-88 319 95 319 96 4.0 2.7 San Dieguito 89-90 301 86 302 83 3.8 0 88-89 320 94 325 93 3.4 .5 87-88 314 91 311 92 3.9 2.0 Sunset 89-90 314 91 282 70 3.9 0 88-89 343 97 255 50 3.9 0 87-88 306 88 197 12 4.2 0 Torrey Pines 89-90 345 97 359 97 4.3 .5 88-89 303 88 348 96 4.2 2.0 87-88 326 95 332 96 4.2 3.5

San Marcos Unified 89-90 281 75 289 77 3.1 1.9 88-89 270 65 267 61 3.1 0 87-88 291 83 283 81 3.1 .7 San Marcos 89-90 281 73 291 76 3.0 2.0 88-89 271 69 268 61 3.1 0 87-88 292 81 287 81 3.1 .7 New Horizons 89-90 262 59 219 18 3.5 0 88-89 193 14 221 22 3.0 0 87-88 243 43 163 3 2.6 0

Sweetwater Union 89-90 239 40 252 46 2.7 11.1 88-89 226 28 245 43 2.8 14.2 87-88 241 44 246 45 2.8 15.8 Bonita Vista 89-90 291 79 296 80 3.6 .7 88-89 287 80 290 79 3.7 5.5 87-88 299 85 299 88 3.7 .9 Castle Park 89-90 231 36 253 43 2.3 17.2 88-89 222 30 256 50 2.6 13.9 87-88 217 25 232 34 2.6 14.7 Chula Vista 89-90 256 54 268 58 2.7 14.6 88-89 251 53 253 47 2.9 18.2 87-88 250 50 256 54 2.8 16.1 Hilltop 89-90 255 53 261 51 3.0 6.0 88-89 234 39 249 43 3.0 10.7 87-88 271 68 270 69 3.3 9.0 Mar Vista 89-90 208 21 239 32 2.3 12.8 88-89 172 6 208 16 2.3 5.0 87-88 219 26 222 26 2.1 27.0 Montgomery 89-90 221 29 235 30 2.5 10.4 88-89 223 31 247 42 2.4 27.8 87-88 242 42 244 45 2.5 16.7 Palomar 89-90 177 7 185 6 2.4 15.2 88-89 177 8 203 14 2.4 20.6 87-88 179 7 166 3 2.2 31.3 Southwest 89-90 219 28 234 29 2.3 14.1 88-89 213 25 239 36 2.5 13.1 87-88 218 25 229 32 2.4 21.3 Sweetwater 89-90 209 21 218 18 2.3 17.1 88-89 186 12 209 16 2.3 15.7 87-88 199 14 204 15 2.3 23.8

Vista Unified 89-90 261 62 264 53 3.0 4.9 88-89 260 61 249 47 3.1 3.5 87-88 271 67 261 61 3.1 2.8 Alta Vista 89-90 240 44 196 8 2.6 22.8 88-89 202 19 184 6 2.3 8.1 87-88 209 20 206 15 2.6 9.3 Rancho Buena Vista 89-90 276 69 282 70 3.2 1.3 88-89 272 70 260 52 3.2 3.9 Vista 89-90 248 49 260 50 2.8 4.8 88-89 261 61 254 49 3.2 2.2 87-88 279 73 269 67 3.2 1.9