Laguna Scores Above Average in All Subjects

Buoyed by intensive efforts in reading and math, Laguna Beach students posted enviable standardized test scores this year, according to results released Tuesday.

The 2,500-student Laguna Beach Unified School District posted marks above the national average in every subject and every grade tested by the Stanford 9 exam. Average district scores ranged from the 59th to 79th percentiles in reading, math, language, science and social studies. The district faltered slightly on spelling, with scores in the high 50s to low 60s.

The district’s performance earns particular notice in reading--the subject that often weighs down even the highest-performing schools. Last year, Laguna Beach’s reading scores ranked among Orange County’s highest.

Laguna Beach is the fourth Orange County school district--and the first one serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade--to release second-year Stanford 9 test scores. Those scores will play a role in everything from student retention to a statewide ranking of schools.

Part of the success of the four-school district, the smallest unified school system in the county, can be attributed to its demographics: Fully 96% of its students are fluent in English. Its parents tend to be affluent and well-educated. And its pupils tend more to stay at the same school, so turnover and attrition rates are low.

But demographics aren’t the only factor in the district’s formula for testing success. A focus on reading and math is evident throughout the district, Assistant Supt. Wendy Doty said.

“Students in Laguna Beach come to school ready to learn,” she said. “What a gift--not all kids do. Not all students have the legs up that our kids do. And our teachers take advantage of that.”

Thurston Middle School--where almost all Stanford 9 scores improved this year--is a case in point.

At Thurston, students who are lagging in math or language arts get a support class--an additional period of the subject that vexes them most. Those further behind benefit from a school within the school, where class sizes are 10 to a teacher or lower.

“These classes have been very successful, especially in the area of math, where it’s easier to document progress,” Thurston Principal Ron LaMotte said. “We’ve seen true growth with some sixth-graders, going from Ds and Fs to A’s and Bs.”

Reading and math scores for Thurston ranged from the 71st to 79th percentiles. Language arts and spelling scores were mainly in the 60s.

Test results are expressed as percentiles, which rank students against a nationally selected group of peers. By definition, the 50th percentile is the national average, with half the pool scoring higher and half scoring lower.

The test scores have underlined a district weakness too: While Laguna students clearly read words well, they don’t have the same success spelling them.

“Our weakest area is spelling,” Doty said. “We need to look at our spelling program and see what we are teaching. We may need a more systematic spelling program.”

Spelling scores were a notch above the national average at El Morro Elementary. That school, home to the district’s highest concentration of students learning English as a second language, garnered reading and language arts scores mostly in the 60s. Math scores were higher.

And at Top of the World Elementary School, the Reading Advantage program matches community volunteer tutors with children who are struggling with reading skills. Those students get one-to-one tutoring several times a week.

Top of the World Elementary boasted reading scores from the 66th to 78th percentiles. Math and language arts scores were similarly high, with a dip in spelling results.

Reading proved the sticking point at Laguna Beach High, with scores from the 59th to 66th percentiles. Math scores were no lower than the 72nd percentile. In language, science and social studies, the high school posted a smattering of 60s and 70s.

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Stanford 9 Scores Remain High in Laguna

Laguna Beach students garnered high ratings on the Stanford 9 standardized test this spring, with most percentile scores in the 60s or 70s. Some 50s scores in spelling leave the district with an obvious academic target. The following percentile listings show how scores ranked, on average, against a nationally selected group. A score in the 99th percentile, for example, is equal to or higher than all but 1% of the comparison group’s.

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Reading Math Language Spelling School Grade 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 Districtwide 2 70 65 73 72 71 66 56 57 3 69 74 79 78 68 75 55 59 4 70 72 67 70 63 71 63 63 5 72 72 77 77 69 72 63 64 6 68 74 75 79 55 65 60 64 7 72 71 72 72 71 66 65 61 8 73 75 71 76 70 71 53 53 El Morro Elementary 2 62 64 72 71 65 69 46 56 3 61 68 76 81 62 73 52 54 4 63 63 66 57 59 66 53 54 5 69 64 79 74 66 69 61 52 Thurston Middle 6 68 74 75 79 55 65 60 64 7 72 71 72 72 71 66 65 61 8 73 75 71 76 70 71 53 53 Top of the World Elementary 2 73 66 74 74 75 62 61 59 3 74 76 80 76 73 75 57 61 4 75 78 68 79 66 74 70 70 5 74 77 76 78 72 75 65 72

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Reading Math Language Science School Grade 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 Districtwide/ 9 68 59 77 79 72 69 72 65 Laguna Beach High 10 62 66 61 72 62 69 69 72 (only school) 11 68 63 71 72 71 70 71 73

Social science School 1998 1999 Districtwide/ 72 65 Laguna Beach High 61 71 (only school) 82 79

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Source: Laguna Beach Unified School District