O.C. 8th-Graders Score Big on State Assessment Test

Eighth-graders in Orange County again far outpaced their peers on the California Assessment Program writing test, earning average scores 30 points higher than the statewide average, according to results released today.

While the county’s average score remained about the same during the past year--up one point--educators were pleased by the county’s continuing rise in test scores over three years, which they attributed to a greater integration of writing exercises in all subjects.

The county’s average score of 289 out of a possible 400 also represented a 14-point increase since the 1986-87 school year. The statewide average increased nine points in that time.

In addition, the Placentia Unified School District’s average score jumped 40 points, and an enormous increase of nearly 100 points since 1986-87 was achieved at a Brea school that has introduced an innovative writing program.

“Last year was the second full year of our (writing program),” said Mike Condiff, principal of Brea Junior High School, where test scores soared from 276 to 372 in the past three years, including a 20-point increase in the past year. “I was sort of surprised at the growth . . . because when you’re high up, the curve flattens out a bit.”

Brea’s program places advanced students in the same classes as average or slower students. The program succeeds, Condiff said, because students are not aware of each others’ academic level and are teamed up for writing projects, thus giving the slower students the benefit of working with brighter students.

The test scores are the result “of outstanding instruction and good kids and a quality curriculum,” Condiff said. “They write all the time . . . the lowest kids are seeing every day the writing sample and example from the very top kids.”

The writing test represents the CAP program’s biggest step to date toward measures of student achievement that are “performance based” rather than the widely criticized multiple-choice or other fill-in-the-blank type tests. Students are assigned a subject from one of eight categories of writing--autobiographical incident, evaluation, firsthand biography, observational writing, problem solution, report of information, speculation about causes or effects and story. The essays receive two grades, one for thinking and writing process skills, the other for spelling and grammar.

Orange County’s average also was buoyed by increases in Ocean View Elementary and Garden Grove Unified school districts, where the scores climbed 25 points and 24 points, respectively, since 1986-87.

While every large school district in the county except Santa Ana Unified posted gains in that time, eight districts declined in score between 1988-89 and 1989-90.

Gretchen Hanson, assistant superintendent for elementary education of the Orange Unified School District--where scores were up 11 points in the last three years but down 10 points in the past year--said the declines or modest gains posted by many districts in the county over the past year are more attributable to statistical anomalies than problems with curriculum.

Hanson said student demographics, conditions under which tests are administered, the content of tests in relation to classroom lessons and the overall quality of instruction tend to vary from year to year and can thus produce artificially high or low test scores.

Educators around the county agreed that studying long-term test results, such as those over the three-year period, are better indicators of student performance because statistical variations tend to even out.

Alan Trudell, a spokesman for the Garden Grove district, attributed the gain there to “a continued effort in our district stressing writing skills across the curriculum.”

State Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig said the rise in test scores throughout the state indicates that such intensified writing programs work better than simple reading and grammar classes.

“It is apparent that in schools where there has been an organized strategy to increase and improve writing and to enrich the language-arts program, students made significant improvements,” Honig said.

Because of state spending cuts, no CAP tests will be given this year. Gov. Pete Wilson has set aside $10 million in his proposed budget to resume the program in the 1991-92 school year.

Times staff writer Jean Merl in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

ORANGE COUNTY EIGHTH-GRADE CAP SCORES HOW TO READ THE SCORES

California Assessment Program scores for the 1989-90 eighth-grade writing test were released today, and Orange County students overall raised their scores by one point over 1988-89 scores, boosting the county’s average score to 40 points above the state average. The following chart is broken down into three categories: scaled score, relative rank and state rank. Scaled score denotes the average score for districts and individual schools. Relative rank refers to a school’s or district’s ranking compared to other schools with similar socioeconomic background factors. The state rank measures on a scale of 1 to 99 a school’s performance in relation to the state average, which is set at the 50th rank. For example, Ball Junior High School in the Anaheim Union High School District attained an average score of 258, placing it in the 67th percentile among similar schools and the 50th percentile when compared to all schools statewide.

Sample Essay Question

This is a sample of one of the eight different types of essay questions that make up the California Assessment Program’s writing test for eighth-graders. Each student is assigned one type of writing task and the grades on all work done by students at a given school are combined to give the school a single “scaled score.” All essays must be completed within 45 minutes, and they are graded for thinking and writing process skills as well as for such mechanics of writing as spelling and grammar.

Writing Situation: Your English class is putting together a project about incidents that individual class members have experienced at school. Think of a memorable incident that you would like to include in this class collection. It might be an incident that made you feel a sense of belonging at the school, a funny situation, an embarrassing one, or any incident that is memorable to you.

Directions for Writing: Write about an incident that you have experienced at school. Things to consider include what was involved, what the people and surroundings looked like, what exactly happened, and how you felt about the incident. Try to make your readers, your classmates, and your teacher understand why this particular event is memorable.

Anaheim Union

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 249 49 41 1988-89 247 37 44

BALL

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 258 67 50 1988-89 247 41 43

BROOKHURST

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 244 49 37 1988-89 237 41 35

DALE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 216 14 17 1988-89 237 27 35

LEXINGTON

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 268 19 58 1988-89 283 23 73

ORANGEVIEW

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 276 75 65 1988-89 241 27 39

SOUTH

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 250 62 43 1988-89 249 55 45

SYCAMORE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 220 58 20 1988-89 210 48 17

WALKER

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 259 26 50 1988-89 270 33 64

Brea-Olinda Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 372 95 98 1988-89 352 94 98

BREA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 372 95 98 1988-89 352 94 97

Buena Park

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 287 91 76 1988-89 258 67 52

BUENA PARK

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 287 91 73 1988-89 258 67 54

Capistrano Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 314 71 91 1988-89 305 63 89

FORSTER

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 295 56 77 1988-89 294 56 81

NEWHART

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 322 65 91 1988-89 319 61 91

NIGUEL HILLS

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 328 69 93 1988-89 315 57 90

SHORECLIFFS

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 311 87 87 1988-89 290 77 78

Fountain Valley

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 320 76 92 1988-89 328 80 94

FULTON

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 347 85 96 1988-89 351 86 97

MASUDA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 323 66 91 1988-89 324 72 92

MOIOLA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 344 83 96 1988-89 358 90 98

PLAVAN

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 252 48 45 1988-89 --- --- ---

TALBERT

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 292 63 75 1988-89 306 74 87

TAMURA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 292 95 75 1988-89 305 81 86

Fullerton

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 282 67 72 1988-89 270 48 65

LADERA VISTA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 293 72 76 1988-89 258 21 54

NICOLAS

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 243 42 37 1988-89 229 26 28

PARKS

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 305 77 84 1988-89 309 75 88

Garden Grove Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 263 76 55 1988-89 265 72 60

ALAMITOS

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 243 45 37 1988-89 251 60 46

BELL

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 289 47 74 1988-89 272 26 65

DOIG

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 247 86 41 1988-89 229 67 28

FITZ

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 256 78 48 1988-89 256 73 51

IRVINE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 255 85 47 1988-89 277 90 69

JORDAN

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 286 96 72 1988-89 281 90 71

MCGARVIN

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 277 62 65 1988-89 298 85 84

RALSTON

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 270 73 60 1988-89 268 45 62

Huntington Beach City

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 300 47 82 1988-89 313 68 91

DWYER

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 289 49 74 1988-89 301 75 85

SOWERS

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 306 46 85 1988-89 321 63 92

Irvine Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 333 74 96 1988-89 339 79 96

LAKESIDE MIDDLE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 328 69 93 1988-89 364 92 98

RANCHO SAN JOAQUIN

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 327 68 92 1988-89 332 73 94

SIERRA VISTA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 334 74 94 1988-89 330 71 94

VENADO

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 340 79 95 1988-89 330 71 94

VISTA VERDE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 354 88 97 1988-89 355 88 97

La Habra City

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 284 91 74 1988-89 267 75 61

IMPERIAL

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 281 90 67 1988-89 268 80 62

WASHINGTON

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 287 92 73 1988-89 265 67 60

Laguna Beach Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 305 47 87 1988-89 322 65 93

THURSTON

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 305 47 84 1988-89 322 65 92

Los Alamitos Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 318 60 92 1988-89 293 33 82

MCAULIFFE MIDDLE SCH

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 318 60 89 1988-89 293 33 81

Newport-Mesa Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 263 45 55 1988-89 258 27 52

CORONA DEL MAR

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 285 23 71 1988-89 311 53 89

COSTA MESA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 246 53 39 1988-89 244 30 41

ENSIGN

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 253 14 45 1988-89 258 9 54

TEWINKLE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 270 81 60 1988-89 225 21 26

Ocean View

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 321 89 93 1988-89 312 85 90

CREST VIEW

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 255 84 47 1988-89 257 87 52

HARBOUR VIEW

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 317 59 89 1988-89 297 37 83

MARINE VIEW

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 368 94 98 1988-89 366 93 98

MESA VIEW

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 318 60 89 1988-89 307 47 87

SPRING VIEW

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 321 95 90 1988-89 303 79 86

VISTA VIEW

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 324 98 92 1988-89 332 99 94

Orange Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 287 62 76 1988-89 297 77 85

CERRO VILLA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 318 61 89 1988-89 297 37 83

EL RANCHO

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 299 40 79 1988-89 303 43 86

MCPHERSON

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 na na na 1988-89 310 97 88

PORTOLA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 235 41 32 1988-89 278 89 69

SANTIAGO

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 308 91 86 1988-89 346 97 96

YORBA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 246 46 39 1988-89 258 70 54

Placentia Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 317 76 92 1988-89 324 84 93

KRAEMER

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 295 91 77 1988-89 315 97 90

TRAVIS

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 331 73 93 1988-89 --- -- --

TUFFREE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 300 41 81 1988-89 328 69 93

YORBA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 339 80 95 1988-89 328 69 93

YORBA LINDA MIDDLE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 329 70 93 1988-89 302 42 85

Saddleback Valley Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 328 75 95 1988-89 333 76 95

LA PAZ

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 361 91 98 1988-89 358 90 98

LOS ALISOS

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 330 72 93 1988-89 329 72 93

SERRANO

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 305 57 84 1988-89 319 61 91

Santa Ana Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 250 86 42 1988-89 259 88 55

CARR

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 236 78 32 1988-89 255 90 50

LATHROP

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 227 67 26 1988-89 253 89 48

MAC ARTHUR

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 321 98 90 1988-89 282 72 72

MCFADDEN

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 267 95 57 1988-89 282 96 72

SIERRA

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 249 88 42 1988-89 259 93 55

SPURGEON

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 219 58 19 1988-89 243 84 41

WILLARD

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 236 78 32 1988-89 235 78 33

Tustin Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 299 66 81 1988-89 294 67 84

COLUMBUS TUSTIN

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 286 59 72 1988-89 255 43 50

CURRIE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 275 64 64 1988-89 272 63 65

HEWES

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 331 73 93 1988-89 342 81 96

Westminster

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 261 77 52 1988-89 244 38 42

JOHNSON

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 249 64 42 1988-89 229 52 28

STACEY

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 277 79 65 1988-89 269 27 63

WARNER

Scaled Relative State Year Score Rank Rank 1989-90 249 83 42 1988-89 227 38 27