CAP Scores on Westside Vary Widely : Education: Reactions of administrators are just as mixed.

Westside schools just got their report cards--results of how well their students performed on the California Assessment Program tests.

Results were mixed, and so were the responses of local administrators.

Coeur d’Alene Avenue School in Venice got test scores that might have induced apoplexy in Beverly Hills, whose schools routinely rank among the state’s best. But although Coeur d’Alene ranked in the bottom half of California schools, Principal Beth G. Ojena said she felt pretty good about the scores.

As she pointed out, students at the Venice elementary school--a quarter of them homeless and a third newly arrived immigrants--showed slight to significant gains over last year in all areas tested: reading, written expression and mathematics.

Coeur d’Alene sixth-graders did better than the Los Angeles Unified School District average. Ojena attributed some of the school’s improvement to the donation last year of a writing-to-read laboratory that helps the youngest students get a good foundation in language skills. She also noted that the school, which has one of the highest homeless populations in the country, received a $50,000 grant from the Weingart Foundation that allowed it to hire a tutor for its transient students.

Tutoring is especially important for homeless students, Ojena said. Learning is sequential, she pointed out, and homeless students often drop out of a particular school, sometimes for as long as a year.

According to the principal, writing has become a schoolwide priority. Teachers try to have students write daily, whatever they are studying. Students also correct each other’s written work as a way of developing editorial skills.

Ojena said she believes that performance on the CAP tests has to be viewed in context. For a student who is preoccupied with adjusting to a new culture and mastering English, the tests may not be especially relevant.

“It’s not that it’s not important,” she said. “It is. But when we test across the board, it’s irrelevant to a lot of the kids, and that’s why they test as low as they do.”

Given the complex needs of the student body, she said, “sometimes it’s incredible to me we do as well as we do.”

Other administrators also urged that CAP scores be viewed in context.

Vera Jashni, assistant superintendent for educational services for the Culver City Unified School District, said CAP scores can be a useful measure of how a school is doing, but only if other measures are also evaluated.

“When you take any test in isolation, that’s not good,” she said. “It’s only one part of the picture, and you’ve got to take the whole picture into consideration.”

Culver City’s scores changed little from last year’s, placing the district near the middle statewide.

Jashni said her district looks at several measures in evaluating how well a school is performing. In addition to looking at CAP scores in written expression, for instance, the district may also evaluate portfolios that contain examples of students’ writing over a period of time.

Jashni said Culver City does no special preparation for CAP testing besides notifying parents and giving students the usual pre-test advice: Get a good night’s sleep, eat breakfast and try to relax.

Additionally, she said, the district hopes test day won’t be too hot or rainy.

Either one brings down scores.

HOW TO READ THE SCORES

These are results of the California Assessment Program test for third, sixth and eighth grades.

State officials say the scores are intended to provide a way to assess schoolwide academic performance. Students do not receive individual scores.

Schools are listed alphabetically by district. Scores are scaled between approximately 100 and 400, although a few scores may be higher or lower. A school’s scores may be compared to district and state averages. For example, if the third grade at your school scored 295 in math, and the state average is 283, children at your school are performing at a higher level than most third-graders statewide.

In general, a fluctuation of 10 points or less should not cause alarm, although state education officials say that the margin of error varies depending upon the size of the school.

Students in grades three and six last spring were given multiple-choice tests in reading, written language (including grammar and spelling) and mathematics. Last spring’s eighth-graders were tested in reading, math, history-social sciences and science. Eighth-graders also took an essay test to assess their writing skills. Results of the essay test are expected next month.

In some cases a specialized or “magnet” school has its campus on the grounds of a regular school. State officials have combined the scores, so separate results are not available.

SAMPLE QUESTION FOR SIXTH-GRADERS

Illustrative social studies passage:

In 1860, a Midwestern stagecoach company let people know about an exciting new plan which would affect our entire country. The company planned a faster mail service to California--the Pony Express, which would deliver the mail in 10 days or less.

Strong young men were the riders. Buffalo Bill was one of the famous ones. These men had to have courage. Every day they faced many kinds of danger. They had been told, “Remember, you travel alone and the country is wild and rugged. You may be cold, hungry, wet and tired, but you must go on! The mail must go through!” And it did go through!

Over the saddle of the Pony Express horses was hung a leather blanket or “mochila.” In the four pockets of it were the tissue-thin letters. Five dollars was the usual price for sending a letter.

The route cut directly across from Missouri to Sacramento. Each rider rode nonstop for about 100 miles, and then a new rider took over. The horses used were chosen for speed and were changed every 10 miles. Quickly the mail was thrown over the saddle of the fresh horse, much like a relay race. Horses were saddled and ready to go at every station. With a leap, the rider was in the saddle--and off like the wind!

Illustrative test questions:

What do you think would usually happen when the rider reached Sacramento?

a. He would go to New York.

b. He would eat and rest.

c. He would brand horses.

d. He would meet Buffalo Bill.

The “mochila” used by the Pony Express rider can best be compared to the

a. sleeping bag used by the camper.

b. sandpaper used by the carpenter.

c. mail pouch used by the mail carrier.

d. pen used to write and letter.

You can conclude from the passage that

a. someone at each station prepared a fresh horse for the rider.

b. Buffalo Bill was bored by the Pony Express.

c. the worst danger was from the cold.

d. few people ever heard about the Pony Express.

1990 CAP SCORES

Beverly Hills Unified DISTRICT AVERAGE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 336 341 354 88-89 363 368 353 87-88 371 369 357

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 304 320 321 88-89 303 336 327 87-88 333 335 337

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 338 352 326 320 88-89 338 345 337 330 87-88 342 352 339 338

BEVERLY VISTA 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 328 333 335 88-89 372 361 370 87-88 376 361 367

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 305 319 332 88-89 313 317 325 87-88 337 323 323

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 345 362 344 327 88-89 370 352 350 363 87-88 328 352 326 342

EL RODEO 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 319 332 361 88-89 336 344 348 87-88 377 349 333

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 320 332 335 88-89 324 351 338 87-88 326 347 356

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 339 350 340 313 88-89 331 333 356 327 87-88 355 374 351 332

HAWTHORNE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 356 330 352 88-89 387 393 339 87-88 365 399 362

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 291 318 318 88-89 289 336 325 87-88 330 318 316

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 282 326 274 304 88-89 341 360 324 314 87-88 354 357 350 341

HORACE MANN 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 351 373 370 88-89 363 376 356 87-88 365 373 363

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 295 308 292 88-89 288 341 323 87-88 339 352 354

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 379 365 333 332 88-89 315 341 313 317 87-88 337 323 334 338

Culver City Unified DISTRICT AVERAGE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 283 263 272 88-89 265 272 271 87-88 298 293 297

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 263 272 273 88-89 265 274 267 87-88 263 276 269

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 250 275 276 257 88-89 266 283 283 260 87-88 243 273 267 254

CULVER CITY 6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 263 272 273 88-89 265 274 267 87-88 263 276 269

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 250 275 276 257 88-89 266 283 283 260 87-88 243 273 267 254

EL RINCON 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 276 259 266 88-89 273 299 283 87-88 284 298 294

FARRAGUT 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 298 284 277 88-89 281 279 285 87-88 339 315 318

HOWE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 270 244 276 88-89 245 251 265 87-88 258 251 263

LA BALLONA 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 289 266 273 88-89 266 264 252 87-88 334 329 331

Los Angeles Unified DISTRICT AVERAGE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 237 238 240 88-89 239 241 236 87-88 240 243 237

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 230 236 237 88-89 230 235 234 87-88 228 238 234

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 212 226 217 226 88-89 211 225 215 225 87-88 205 220 207 219

BEETHOVEN STREET 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 281 280 226 88-89 253 246 238 87-88 254 273 248

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 264 264 269 88-89 272 250 265 87-88 264 259 252

BRADDOCK DRIVE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 209 212 224 88-89 226 235 230 87-88 209 234 218

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 239 230 251 88-89 225 240 223 87-88 217 229 234

BROADWAY 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 212 212 226 88-89 216 236 195 87-88 222 222 210

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 219 238 232 88-89 218 230 223 87-88 202 214 209

BROCKTON AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 247 245 241 88-89 262 260 251 87-88 303 285 254

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 254 265 269 88-89 257 229 257 87-88 258 261 247

BURROUGHS 8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 287 283 273 277 88-89 246 251 237 249 87-88 233 252 236 232

CANFIELD AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 272 275 263 88-89 273 276 246 87-88 264 260 238

CANYON 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 313 315 308 88-89 322 309 320 87-88 354 329 322

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 313 304 314 88-89 326 290 330 87-88 320 312 322

CARTHAY CENTER 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 241 242 248 88-89 264 271 255 87-88 277 290 248

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 265 249 249 88-89 292 285 269 87-88 271 277 257

CASTLE HEIGHTS 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 268 269 290 88-89 302 291 307 87-88 276 272 293

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 267 262 254 88-89 269 264 261 87-88 254 250 246

CHARNOCK ROAD 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 264 259 247 88-89 234 231 234 87-88 265 246 234

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 255 244 246 88-89 265 285 254 87-88 255 261 262

CHEREMOYA AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 225 230 229 88-89 237 232 226 87-88 251 263 250

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 236 244 237 88-89 265 257 274 87-88 263 267 258

CLOVER AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 280 293 284 88-89 287 277 306 87-88 318 308 304

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 250 255 260 88-89 290 274 283 87-88 273 273 288

COEUR D’ALENE AVE. 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 228 219 246 88-89 199 218 227 87-88 218 217 216

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 257 262 246 88-89 234 235 232 87-88 258 252 239

COWAN AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 266 288 239 88-89 268 258 242 87-88 295 302 261

CRESCENT HEIGHTS 6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 227 234 227 88-89 259 261 253 87-88 270 283 230

EMERSON 8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 248 250 248 254 88-89 247 253 244 250 87-88 254 280 256 261

FAIRBURN AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 325 326 335 88-89 315 307 303 87-88 298 329 279

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 290 294 311 88-89 288 285 287 87-88 294 298 279

GARDNER STREET 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 242 243 242 88-89 236 224 218 87-88 239 245 250

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 264 254 268 88-89 283 273 270 87-88 267 264 282

GRAND VIEW BLVD. 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 232 238 231 88-89 237 234 228 87-88 235 233 225

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 238 247 232 88-89 261 253 245 87-88 224 233 216

GRANT 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 238 221 249 88-89 228 253 253 87-88 258 257 251

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 233 236 243 88-89 233 248 252 87-88 233 241 236

HANCOCK PARK 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 312 312 316 88-89 291 290 295 87-88 318 319 336

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 298 287 302 88-89 290 273 300 87-88 286 313 287

KENTER CANYON 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 274 265 290 88-89 311 291 285 87-88 317 301 297

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 252 265 251 88-89 255 241 257 87-88 264 279 282

KENTWOOD 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 259 257 260 88-89 289 297 273 87-88 284 281 248

LAUREL 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 251 247 255 88-89 247 265 244 87-88 230 223 217

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 264 270 281 88-89 230 238 251 87-88 224 256 249

LOYOLA VILLAGE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 286 272 291 88-89 313 308 317 87-88 267 273 254

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 299 301 276 88-89 270 271 286 87-88 274 282 287

MAR VISTA 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 266 258 258 88-89 280 259 305 87-88 307 293 270

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 248 231 245 88-89 245 247 245 87-88 248 269 266

MARINA DEL REY 8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 219 213 208 226 88-89 206 216 215 233 87-88 204 221 215 222

MARK TWAIN 8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 204 226 220 226 88-89 219 242 230 232 87-88 204 225 197 214

MARQUEZ AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 320 281 279 88-89 353 333 305 87-88 305 286 289

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 305 293 305 88-89 308 283 315 87-88 329 310 331

MELROSE AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 239 256 265 88-89 250 243 249 87-88 243 245 262

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 291 271 295 88-89 261 274 286 87-88 316 296 326

MT. VERNON 8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 169 186 190 188 88-89 181 198 191 197 87-88 177 181 178 188

NINETY-EIGHTH STREET 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 248 258 263 88-89 249 255 245 87-88 262 254 240

OVERLAND AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 311 312 285 88-89 287 296 268 87-88 308 309 292

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 303 282 284 88-89 302 306 288 87-88 251 264 249

PACIFIC PALISADES 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 265 262 254 88-89 271 279 260 87-88 258 264 243

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 296 288 292 88-89 273 289 281 87-88 240 242 254

PALMS 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 247 249 237 88-89 233 233 226 87-88 305 298 294

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 266 263 244 88-89 240 255 248 87-88 244 254 262

PALMS 8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 270 276 281 268 88-89 244 247 239 248 87-88 233 236 226 247

PLAYA DEL REY 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 312 301 296 88-89 271 269 258 87-88 283 278 268

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 266 270 297 88-89 227 249 268 87-88 272 272 304

RICHLAND AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 245 253 250 88-89 244 251 246 87-88 247 236 249

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 253 262 245 88-89 262 266 259 87-88 251 246 241

ROSCOMARE ROAD 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 306 312 296 88-89 294 294 283 87-88 314 298 293

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 288 284 269 88-89 277 247 276 87-88 289 271 282

ROSEWOOD AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 260 273 252 88-89 320 295 317 87-88 278 271 261

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 267 266 267 88-89 255 259 262 87-88 280 277 263

SHENANDOAH STREET 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 196 205 204 88-89 209 212 202 87-88 198 206 186

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 207 219 204 88-89 214 236 218 87-88 229 228 215

SHORT AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 246 255 253 88-89 268 276 266 87-88 251 272 262

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 256 237 249 88-89 248 253 240 87-88 258 262 249

STERRY 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 241 251 254 88-89 245 245 226 87-88 252 238 254

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 253 253 253 88-89 272 250 274 87-88 242 255 265

STONER AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 179 199 187 88-89 196 208 194 87-88 244 247 244

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 225 229 245 88-89 238 251 244 87-88 199 240 234

VALLEY VIEW 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 256 235 245 88-89 263 269 244 87-88 245 232 249

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 261 265 249 88-89 220 235 223 87-88 246 253 242

VAN NESS AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 261 258 267 88-89 272 269 262 87-88 254 278 251

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 243 245 241 88-89 253 262 257 87-88 235 255 251

VINE STREET 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 226 234 256 88-89 261 256 270 87-88 258 258 260

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 230 254 257 88-89 232 252 235 87-88 242 231 237

WALGROVE AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 240 230 232 88-89 211 220 230 87-88 239 239 229

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 246 247 251 88-89 246 253 239 87-88 230 231 223

WARNER AVENUE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 314 307 321 88-89 301 310 289 87-88 261 264 257

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 311 294 311 88-89 287 279 291 87-88 282 269 286

WEBSTER 8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 226 239 226 236 88-89 237 244 237 251 87-88 214 211 219 213

WEST HOLLYWOOD 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 197 206 223 88-89 234 247 252 87-88 214 217 218

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 206 207 211 88-89 261 279 265 87-88 259 237 257

WESTMINSTER AVE. 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 218 210 211 88-89 221 231 225 87-88 223 257 224

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 227 234 232 88-89 244 254 232 87-88 239 242 229

WESTPORT HEIGHTS 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 260 259 241 88-89 233 239 234 87-88 224 230 221

WESTWOOD 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 313 292 308 88-89 289 272 294 87-88 301 294 289

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 285 270 284 88-89 269 266 282 87-88 286 254 288

WILSHIRE CREST 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 241 248 227 88-89 241 235 225 87-88 257 263 223

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 270 272 269 88-89 248 248 243 87-88 254 257 236

WILTON PLACE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 255 260 279 88-89 257 262 269 87-88 247 256 272

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 260 267 280 88-89 286 274 279 87-88 262 268 290

WONDERLAND 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 320 301 327 88-89 362 352 374 87-88 378 364 359

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 359 327 335 88-89 329 334 347 87-88 348 326 337

WRIGHT 6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 261 260 267 88-89 246 249 242 87-88 254 264 260

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 252 258 244 260 88-89 254 257 264 259 87-88 240 255 244 254

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified DISTRICT AVERAGE 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 316 301 314 88-89 312 291 294 87-88 312 312 295

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 276 269 280 88-89 278 272 277 87-88 272 274 276

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 290 284 273 288 88-89 284 275 271 281 87-88 299 288 280 291

ADAMS 6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 238 240 240 88-89 248 249 245 87-88 233 249 234

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 231 244 235 252 88-89 244 243 238 255 87-88 247 243 237 249

FRANKLIN 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 363 341 357 88-89 348 330 333 87-88 367 351 328

GRANT 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 316 302 326 88-89 275 254 272 87-88 289 315 281

LINCOLN 6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 288 285 302 88-89 290 287 296 87-88 294 286 308

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 324 309 297 304 88-89 298 293 290 288 87-88 324 315 302 310

CABRILLO/MALIBU PARK 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 330 314 322 88-89 353 331 297 87-88 386 346 338

6th Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 324 291 301 88-89 294 270 289 87-88 319 316 307

8th Grade

Reading Math SS Sci 89-90 351 327 305 350 88-89 348 307 292 332 87-88 339 306 316 331

MCKINLEY 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 213 213 226 88-89 273 254 268 87-88 236 261 236

MUIR 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 264 246 257 88-89 264 244 257 87-88 256 256 255

ROGERS 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 251 237 249 88-89 259 236 244 87-88 285 274 259

ROOSEVELT 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 357 324 335 88-89 332 315 295 87-88 351 346 339

WEBSTER 3rd Grade

Reading Writing Math 89-90 374 373 395 88-89 388 358 359 87-88 301 331 291