Looking Deeper at O.C. Academic Performance Index Scores

One feature of the state’s new Academic Performance Index is causing some double-takes: the comparisons of similar schools.

The API, which ranks the state’s 6,700 schools based on results from the standardized Stanford 9 exams, includes a numerical score for each school and a ranking of 1 to 10 to show how the school compares statewide and with other campuses that have similar student demographics.

That second number, the similar schools rank, is intended as an equalizing factor. The similar-schools rank means that a school that fares poorly overall--and earns, say, a 1--could still perform well among peers--and garner a 10--or vice versa.

About 25% of Orange County schools included in the index showed a dramatic switch, for better or worse, when compared to like schools. Scores for Capistrano schools were unavailable.

API scores will be used to set improvement goals and to form a base for whether schools qualify for future rewards or sanctions.

How to read these tables:

* Find the school district. Districts are listed in alphabetical order.

* Search for an individual school. Schools are listed in alphabetical order.

* For each school, the table first lists the 1999 API score, on a scale of 200 to 1,000. The statewide median is 630; the statewide target is 800.

* Next comes a statewide ranking, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 representing the bottom 10% statewide and 10 representing the top 10% statewide.

* The third column is a second ranking from 1 to 10 comparing the school with a group of 100 schools that are similar in certain regards, such as poverty rate, language ability of students, pupil mobility, student ethnicity and the percentage of teachers with emergency credentials.

HIGHER RANKINGS

The following schools performed well in statewide rankings but their standings dropped by at least 5 ranking levels when compared to similar schools.

Anaheim Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Henry Elementary 477 2 7 Jefferson Elementary 623 5 10 Key Elementary 487 2 9 Madison Elementary 568 4 9 Mann Elementary 442 1 6 Marshall Elementary 591 5 10 Roosevelt Elementary 586 4 10 Ross Elementary 489 2 7

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Anaheim Union High

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Anaheim High 486 2 8 Katella High 578 4 9

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Garden Grove Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Heritage Elementary 551 4 9 Newhope Elementary 571 4 9 Peters Intermediate 569 4 10 Rosita Elementary 572 4 9 Russell Elementary 465 2 7 Simmons Elementary 532 3 9 Doig Intermediate 556 4 10 Fitz Intermediate 632 5 10 Los Amigos High 567 4 9 Santiago High 524 3 9

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La Habra City Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Las Lomas Elementary 622 5 10 Las Positas Elementary 562 4 9 Imperial Middle 623 5 10

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Magnolia Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Low Elementary 581 4 9 Pyles Elementary 469 2 7 Walter Elementary 533 3 9

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Newport-Mesa Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Pomona Elementary 581 4 10 Rea Elementary 472 2 8 Whittier Elementary 498 3 10

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Ocean View Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Oak View Elementary 421 1 7

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Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Rio Vista Elementary 509 3 8 Topaz Elementary 510 3 8

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Santa Ana Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Adams Elementary 486 2 8 Carver Elementary 416 1 6 Diamond Elementary 502 3 10 Edison Elementary 442 1 6 Fremont Elementary 477 2 8 Garfield Elementary 432 1 8 Harvey Elementary 462 2 8 Heninger Elementary 504 3 10 Jackson Elementary 466 2 7 King Elementary 416 1 6 Lincoln Elementary 445 1 7 Lowell Elementary 437 1 9 Madison Elementary 502 3 10 Martin Elementary 502 3 10 Monroe Elementary 512 3 10 Monte Vista Elementary 429 1 8 Pio Pico Elementary 413 1 6 Remington Elementary 505 3 9 Roosevelt Elementary 420 1 7 Sepulveda Elementary 469 2 9 Walker Elementary 500 3 8 Washington Elementary 477 2 8 Carr Intermediate 440 1 6 McFadden Intermediate 511 2 8 Spurgeon Intermediate 433 1 6 Villa Fundamental 538 3 10 Willard Intermediate 441 1 6 Century High 487 2 8 Saddleback High 533 3 10 Valley High 464 1 6

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Tustin Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Heideman Elementary 501 3 8 Lambert Elementary 470 2 10 Thorman Elementary 517 3 9

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Westminster Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Willmore Elementary 530 3 9

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LOWER RANKINGS

The following schools performed poorly in statewide rankings but boosted their standing by at least 5 ranking levels when compared to similar schools.

Anaheim Union High

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Lexington Jr. High 719 8 2 Walker Junior High 665 6 1 Cypress High 683 8 2

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Brea Olinda Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Brea-Olinda High 742 9 4

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Cypress Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Morris Elementary 802 9 4

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Fountain Valley Elementary

School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Moiola Elementary 808 9 4 Talbert Middle 738 8 3

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Fullerton Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Fern Drive Elementary 785 9 2 Rolling Hills Elementary 750 8 2 Sunset Lane Elementary 802 9 3 Parks Junior High 827 10 5

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Fullerton Joint Union High

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Sunny Hills High 764 10 4

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Garden Grove Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Enders Elementary 725 8 2 McGarvin Intermediate 690 7 1

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Huntington Beach City Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Eader Elementary 781 9 4 Moffett Elementary 793 9 3 Dwyer Middle 732 8 2 Sowers Middle 807 10 2

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Huntington Beach Union High

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Edison High 729 9 2 Fountain Valley High 739 9 2 Huntington Beach High 703 8 3 Marina High 733 9 4

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Los Alamitos Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Hopkinson Elementary 818 10 4 Lee Elementary 824 10 5 Los Alamitos Elementary 785 9 4 McGaugh Elementary 804 9 3 Rossmoor Elementary 833 10 5

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Newport-Mesa Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Newport Elementary 779 9 1

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Ocean View Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Harbour View Elementary 787 9 4 Hope View Elementary 747 8 1

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Orange Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Canyon Rim Elementary 791 9 2 Chapman Hills Elementary 813 9 4 Imperial Elementary 814 9 4 Villa Park Elementary 826 10 5

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Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Bryant Ranch Elementary 799 9 3 Rose Drive Elementary 772 9 4 Travis Ranch Elementary 819 10 5 Van Buren Elementary 793 9 4 Woodsboro Elementary 729 8 3 Yorba Linda Middle 773 9 3

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Saddleback Valley Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Deportola Elementary 840 10 5 La Paz Intermediate 811 10 3 Serrano Intermediate 772 9 4 El Toro High 760 10 5 Laguna Hills High 777 10 5 Mission Viejo High 763 10 5 Trabuco Hills High 744 9 4

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Tustin Unified

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Peters Canyon Elementary 804 9 3 Tustin Ranch Elementary 775 9 3 Utt Middle 680 7 2 Foothill High 706 8 2

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Westminster Elementary

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School 1999 State Sim. API Rank Rank Eastwood Elementary 738 8 3

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Source: California Department of Education