CALIFORNIA LEARNING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM SCORES : About the Tests

The Times today is publishing key scores from The California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) tests, which were designed to measure students’ knowledge and abilities against objective standards. To do that, CLAS establishes six performance levels in each of the three subject areas covered by the test--reading, writing and math--and every student scores at one of those levels.

For example, students who performed at Level 1 in reading understood only single words or phrases in the assigned reading passage and were unable to take away a “coherent meaning” from what they read.

Students at the highest level, Level 6, were able to “demonstrate insight” as they wrote about the passage and showed an ability to “explore complexities in depth” and “expand on the possible meanings of a text.”

In math, students who scored at Level 1 made major mathematical errors or provided little or no explanation of how they solved problems. Exams scored at Level 6 provided clear and logical explanations of solutions and made effective use of mathematical language, diagrams and graphs.

On the writing exams, Level 1 essays were brief and disorganized and included major errors in grammar, punctuation, capitalization and spelling. Essays graded at Level 6 presented a complex range of ideas, supported with logical reasons and detailed answers, and were written in a distinctive style.

Exams scored at the other four levels rated between those two extremes. Level 6 is considered “advanced” understanding of the subject matter; Level 5 is “proficient,” and Level 4 is considered “basic” understanding. Students who scored at Level 3 or below, in effect, failed to demonstrate the understanding that would merit a passing grade on a conventional test.

The tests were scored by specially trained evaluators, whose work was periodically reviewed by teachers who had trained them.

The scores reported for individual schools reflect the percentage of students performing at each level, in each subject. Theoretically, the best result would be for 100% of the students to achieve at Level 6. The worst would be if 100% of the students were at Level 1.

This year, the state has also released a composite score--the combined percentage of students scoring at Levels 4, 5 or 6 at each school--to make it easier to compare schools to one another.

The tests were given to students in the 4th, 8th and 10th grades.

HOW TO READ THE SCORES

* Find your school district under the appropriate grade. The districts are listed alphabetically. Find your school under the district name.

* The Times today is reporting scores for individual schools using the composite figure provided by the state--denoting the percentage of test-takers who achieved a passing score. So, each figure listed indicates the percentage of students at that school who scored 4, 5 or 6 in a given skills area, reading (R) , writing (W) or math (M) . An asterisk indicates that a school had too few students take the test to produce a reliable aggregate score.

* Main story, A1.

Additional Information on the Scores

California Learning Assessment System scores for individual schools, districts or the entire state may be obtained in several ways:

* On the ‘Net: Use an Internet service to contact the California Department of Education “gopher” server at “goldmine.cde.ca.gov”.

* Using a modem and a computer: Download files from the Department’s computer at (916) 657-4881 or (916) 657-5371. CLAS files can be found from the main menu with the following commands: type F, for file menu; type L, for list of available files and type 7 to select the CLAS file area. The files are in a compressed format and may be viewed only when downloaded and decompressed.

* Locally: Scores are available from your local school district or from your county office of education. Call your local school district for more information.

Grade 4

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Statewide 23 32 28 -- -- -- Ventura County 26 36 36 -- -- --

Briggs Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 22 25 28 -- -- -- Briggs Elementary 22 25 28 23 33 29

Fillmore Unified

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 17 27 15 -- -- -- Piru Elementary 12 26 15 20 27 22 Sespe Elementary 19 27 15 18 26 20

Hueneme Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 20 25 27 -- -- -- Larsen Elementary 10 18 19 19 28 21 Haycox Elementary 26 25 22 15 23 15 Williams Elementary 22 40 25 21 31 26 Hollywood Beach Elementary 28 34 51 27 37 38 Hueneme Elementary 31 36 27 18 27 21 Hathaway Elementary 15 19 26 16 25 18 Parkview Elementary 15 24 25 21 29 24 Bard Elementary 27 31 34 21 30 25 Sunkist Elementary 14 12 23 21 30 24

Mesa Union Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 35 38 34 -- -- -- Mesa Elementary 35 38 34 34 45 44

Mupu Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide * * * -- -- -- Mupu Elementary * * * 22 33 35

Ocean View Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 21 27 23 -- -- -- Laguna Vista Elementary 17 26 13 21 29 25 Mar Vista Elementary 33 42 25 15 20 14 Tierra Vista Elementary 19 20 31 23 34 31

Ojai Unified

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 37 48 43 -- -- -- Meiners Oaks Elementary 36 46 44 27 39 36 Mira Monte Elementary * * * 26 37 34 San Antonio Elementary 31 * 25 22 30 30 Summit Elementary * 41 * 24 32 33 Topa Topa Elementary 51 57 51 29 41 38

Oxnard Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 17 29 17 -- -- -- Curren Elementary 9 22 10 18 27 19 Driffill Elementary 13 47 12 16 24 17 Harrington Elementary 12 14 18 15 23 16 Cesar Chavez Elementary 7 25 7 14 20 13 Kamala Elementary 4 30 9 15 23 16 Marina West Elementary 13 16 10 24 33 28 McKinna Elementary 8 23 13 16 25 17 Rose Avenue Elementary 40 43 60 14 23 13 Sierra Linda Elementary 7 10 6 17 24 17 Lemonwood Elementary 21 46 19 24 33 30 McAuliffe 30 42 17 21 30 24 Ritchen Elementary 21 28 23 20 30 23

Pleasant Valley Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide * * * -- -- -- Camarillo Heights Elementary * * * 39 51 54 Dos Caminos Elementary * * * 39 50 53 El Descanso Elementary * * * 20 27 23 El Rancho Structured * * 15 19 27 21 Las Posas Elementary * * * 31 42 42 Los Nogales Elementary * * * 33 45 44 Santa Rosa Elementary * 44 47 40 50 54 Valle Lindo Elementary 21 33 39 23 33 31 Bedford Open Elementary * * * 45 56 60 Los Primeros * * * 36 48 48 Las Colinas Elementary * * * 36 47 47

Rio Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 15 23 16 -- -- -- El Rio Elementary 10 29 16 21 30 25 Rio Lindo Elementary 16 21 19 24 35 32 Rio Plaza Elementary 20 9 17 18 27 20 Rio Real Elementary 15 30 13 17 25 19

Santa Clara Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide * * * -- -- -- Santa Clara Elementary * * * 21 31 30

Santa Paula Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 17 29 17 -- -- -- Webster Elementary 13 37 17 16 22 18 Blanchard Elementary 22 32 28 20 29 24 Glen City Elementary 20 33 15 20 30 24 Thille Elementary 28 * 14 15 22 17 Mckevett Elementary 9 9 10 21 31 24 Bedell Elementary 11 28 19 25 38 35

Simi Valley Unified

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 23 37 36 -- -- -- Berylwood Elementary 22 29 28 28 37 37 Big Springs Elementary 38 46 65 34 46 48 Crestview Elementary 14 27 22 34 45 47 Garden Grove Elementary 13 32 26 23 32 30 Hollow Hills Elementary 48 69 60 38 50 54 Katherine Elementary 50 65 39 36 48 48 Knolls Elementary 32 50 55 26 36 35 Lincoln Elementary 10 12 25 32 43 42 Madera Elementary 25 52 39 38 48 52 Mountain View Elementary 19 51 34 33 42 40 Park View Elementary 15 25 27 24 34 31 Santa Susana Elementary 19 34 27 24 33 31 Simi Elementary 3 14 18 23 34 33 Sycamore Elementary 26 26 38 28 39 39 Township Elementary 12 32 18 32 43 44 Vista Fundamental 27 35 51 36 47 48 Justin Elementary 15 44 49 30 41 43 White Oak Elementary 12 16 23 34 46 49 Atherwood Elementary 42 49 56 37 49 51

Somis Union Elementary

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 8 8 16 -- -- -- Somis Elementary 8 8 16 23 34 31

Ventura Unified

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 22 32 35 -- -- -- Arnaz Elementary 32 49 42 22 32 29 Blanche Reynolds Elementary 21 31 33 32 44 45 E. P. Foster Elementary 17 26 22 19 29 23 Elmhurst Elementary 2 25 27 24 36 31 Juanamaria Elementary 13 23 21 25 37 31 Serra Elementary 27 40 47 30 40 39 Lincoln Elementary 14 27 33 21 31 26 Loma Vista Elementary 43 64 63 25 36 34 Montalvo Elementary 28 24 30 22 31 29 Mound Elementary * * * 42 54 57 Oak View Elementary 21 40 33 25 34 35 Pierpont Elementary 26 31 28 18 26 23 Poinsettia Elementary 22 30 45 43 56 59 Saticoy Elementary 19 22 25 26 37 35 Sheridan Way Elementary 3 8 16 21 29 23 Will Rogers Elementary 22 24 16 18 27 19 Portola Elementary 17 22 36 23 32 30

Conejo Valley Unified

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 42 51 59 -- -- -- Acacia Elementary 38 41 66 36 48 49 Aspen Elementary * * * 39 49 54 Banyan Elementary 36 52 65 31 41 42 Madrona Elementary 46 56 69 37 48 51 Manzanita Elementary 44 47 55 28 37 35 Maple Elementary 36 * 50 31 41 41 Walnut Elementary * * * 33 45 44 Conejo Elementary 6 40 23 21 30 26 Glenwood Elementary 43 39 44 25 35 31 Ladera Elementary 45 56 53 40 52 56 Meadows Elementary 61 64 60 38 49 52 Park Oaks Elementary 21 31 44 34 44 43 University Elementary 45 50 68 26 36 36 Weathersfield Elementary 49 62 72 40 52 55 Westlake Elementary 38 46 56 42 54 57 Wildwood Elementary 60 74 76 45 56 61 Cypress Elementary * * * 33 44 46 Westlake Hills Elementary 63 74 78 46 58 64

Oak Park Unified

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 44 61 65 -- -- -- Brookside Elementary 48 72 75 39 49 52 Oak Hills Elementary 43 54 63 40 51 54 Red Oak Elementary 39 57 53 36 48 49

Moorpark Unified

Results 100 Comp. R% W% M% R% W% M% Districtwide 36 45 45 -- -- -- Flory Elementary 34 46 43 24 32 29 Arroyo West Elementary 38 44 47 33 43 42

How to Read the Scores Find your school district. The districts are listed alphabetically. Find your school under the district name. The score recorded for each school reflects the percentage of its students scoring at Levels 4, 5 or 6--in effect, those who demonstrated at least “basic” understanding of the subject matter in three basic skill areas. An asterisk (*) indicates that a school had too few students take the test to produce a reliable score.