County Schools Outrank Peers Around State

Ventura County students have once again outperformed their peers throughout California, this time on an annual academic ranking of public schools released Wednesday.

And for the first time this year, the ranking includes results from more rigorous language-arts tests given to students last spring, rather than being based solely on the Stanford 9 exam.

Results of the report show that 62% of local campuses placed in the top half of all schools statewide and that 59% scored better than schools with similar characteristics.

In addition, Ventura County’s median Academic Performance Index score for elementary schools was 722, compared with the statewide median score of 689. And countywide, more than 25% of schools have achieved one state goal--an API score of 800--while statewide the figure is 18%.

In the academic ranking, schools received a score of 1 to 10, with a 1 representing the bottom 10% of schools and 10 the top 10%. Elementary, middle and high schools are ranked against each other.

Because the numbers are based on a new formula, comparisons should not be made with scores from past years, officials said.

Within Ventura County, however, the rankings again illustrated the ever-present performance gap between the affluent east county and the more blue-collar west.

In the Conejo Valley Unified School District in Thousand Oaks, for example, more than half the schools earned a 10. In the similar-sized Ventura Unified School District, only 8% achieved the same ranking.

Chuck Weis, Ventura County’s superintendent of schools, said the focus for the area’s lower-performing schools should be meeting their targets for improvement, which were also published in Wednesday’s report.

“Schools need to already be focusing on doing whatever it takes to meet these targets,” Weis said. “If schools do it across the state, it will be closing the gap. And that’s the whole purpose of this thing.”

He added that inclusion of the California Standards Test scores, the language-arts test that made up 36% of the 2001 API, is a big step for the state’s accountability program. In the past, the program has been criticized for basing schools’ rewards and sanctions on a single test that did not necessarily match what they were told to teach.

“The standards tests are a better measure,” Weis said.

Also encouraging, he said, is that nearly 60% of the schools scored in the top half of the similar-schools ranking, which means they are doing better than campuses facing similar challenges: poverty, large populations of students learning English and high pupil mobility rates.

“To a parent, that should say if you put your child in our schools, they are on average going to do better here than in someone else’s schools,” Weis said.

One example is Rio Elementary, a small school district in the rural outskirts of Oxnard, where schools that were ranked 2, 3 and 5 on the statewide list received 6s and 8s on the similar-schools ranking.

“We did phenomenally well--I am very pleased,” said David Lopez, an assistant superintendent. “It’s saying that we’re making improvement a school-wide focus.”

Another is Manzanita Elementary in Thousand Oaks, which earned a 6 on the state ranking but a 10 among similar campuses.

The rankings can serve as validation for schools in poor areas or where populations of parents who don’t speak English are high, said Robert Fraisse, superintendent of the Hueneme Elementary School District.

At the same time, he said, the report serves as a reminder about the importance of boosting scores on the standardized tests that all second- through 11th-graders will take in March and April.

“It emphasizes that the state’s taking it seriously,” Fraisse said, “and that we can’t let our resolve down to continue to improve.”

Major improvement is becoming more and more difficult for schools in the highest-performing districts. In 2001, 43% of schools in Ventura County showed less improvement on the API than they demonstrated in previous years, according to a Times analysis of the data.

The phenomenon also makes similar-school ranking comparisons less meaningful for those schools, said Mike Vollmert, testing coordinator in Conejo Valley.

For example, Banyan Elementary in Thousand Oaks was ranked a 10 among all schools in the state, but only a 5 when compared with similar campuses.

“Making something out of those numbers is like arguing over whether Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant is a better basketball player--I’ll take either one of them,” he said.

Still, the greatest challenges exist for campuses struggling in the lower 10% of schools statewide, educators said. In Ventura County, those are mostly in the poorest areas of Oxnard and Santa Paula.

Elm Street School in Oxnard, where students hiked the school’s API a whopping 97 points from last year, is still within the lowest rank--both statewide and among similar schools.

The school is doing the best it can, said Principal Rafael Perez. Specialists have been working more with at-risk students in reading, language and math sessions.

Although outsiders judge his school on the API scores, “my priority is to make sure the kids are learning,” Perez said.

Many school officials Wednesday agreed that one score or one rank alone does not say much about the quality of education at a school or within a district.

“The API is a political construct with political motivations,” Vollmert said. “We can get some good data out of this to help individual kids, but that’s not in the API.”

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Ventura County Schools Outperform State Peers in API

What Is the API?

California’s Academic Performance Index is the cornerstone of Gov. Gray Davis’ push to hold schools accountable for student performance.

The API summarizes the performance on two key exams given last spring to about 4.3 million students: the 2001 Stanford 9, a standardized basic skills test, and a new test based on California’s rigorous English and language arts standards.

The scores form a base for determining whether schools qualify for future rewards or sanctions. This fall, schools will learn whether they met their academic goals based on tests taken in the spring.

Readers who want to know how a school in Ventura County is faring can use this index as a gauge.

Results for all schools and districts in California are available on the World Wide Web at https://https://api.cde.ca.gov/

How to Read These Tables

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

* Search for the individual school.

* For each school, the table first lists the 2001 API score, on a scale of 200 to 1,000. Two asterisks (**) indicate problems with the tested population or data irregularities; for more information, call the school or visit the API Web site.

* Next comes a statewide ranking, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 representing the bottom 10% of schools and 10 the top 10%. All elementary schools are ranked together, as are middle schools and high schools.

* The third column is a second ranking comparing the school with a group of 100 other schools that are similar in certain regards, such as poverty rate, the number of English-language learners, pupil mobility and percentage of teachers with emergency credentials.

* The final column lists the target score for the next API report, due in the fall. An asterisk (*) indicates that a school is at or above 800.

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Briggs Elementary Briggs Elementary 628 4 8 637 Olivelands Elementary 701 6 N/A 706

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Conejo Valley Unified

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Newbury Park High 791 10 9 792 Thousand Oaks High 774 10 5 775 Westlake High 788 10 5 789 Colina Intermediate 859 10 7 * Redwood Intermediate 839 10 8 * Sequoia Intermediate 810 9 9 * Los Cerritos Middle 824 9 4 * Acacia Elementary 805 9 9 * Aspen Elementary 846 9 5 * Banyan Elementary 859 10 5 * Conejo Elementary 660 5 5 667 Cypress Elementary 857 10 7 * Glenwood Elementary 730 7 4 734 Ladera Elementary 848 10 10 * Lang Ranch Elementary 897 10 7 * Madrona Elementary 879 10 8 * Manzanita Elementary 718 6 10 722 Maple Elementary 868 10 9 * Meadows Elementary 852 10 5 * Park Oaks Elementary 688 5 7 694 University Elementary 818 9 3 * Walnut Elementary 773 8 4 774 Weathersfield Elementary 879 10 7 * Westlake Elementary 872 10 7 * Wildwood Elementary 819 9 2 * Westlake Hills Elementary 896 10 9 *

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Fillmore Unified

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Fillmore Senior High 556 3 6 568 Fillmore Middle 611 4 8 620 Piru Elementary 665 5 10 672 San Cayetano Elementary 627 4 7 636 Sespe Elementary 644 4 7 652

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Hueneme Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Blackstock Junior High 617 4 10 626 Green Junior High 674 6 10 680 Bard Elementary 631 4 4 639 Hathaway Elementary 599 3 6 609 Haycox Elementary 501 1 4 516 Hollywood Beach Elementary 815 9 7 * Hueneme Elementary 681 5 7 687 Larsen Elementary 621 4 10 630 Parkview Elementary 653 4 9 660 Sunkist Elementary 640 4 9 648 Williams Elementary 673 5 7 679

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Mesa Union Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Mesa Elementary 792 8 7 793

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Moorpark Unified

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Moorpark High 713 8 7 717 Chaparral Middle 811 9 10 * Mesa Verde Middle 715 7 3 719 Arroyo West Elementary 794 8 5 795 Campus Canyon Elementary 724 6 5 728 Flory Elementary 731 7 4 734 Mountain Meadows Elementary 809 9 8 * Peach Hill Elementary 669 5 1 676 Walnut Canyon Elementary 761 7 3 763

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Mupu Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Mupu Elementary 727 7 N/A 731

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Oak Park Unified

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Oak Park High 848 10 9 * Medea Creek Middle 868 10 7 * Brookside Elementary 886 10 6 * Oak Hills Elementary 887 10 3 * Red Oak Elementary 883 10 4 *

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Ocean View Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Ocean View Junior High 613 4 9 622

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Laguna Vista Elementary 664 5 5 671 Mar Vista Elementary X X X X Tierra Vista Elementary X X X X

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Ojai Unified

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Nordhoff High 741 9 9 744 Matilija Junior High 760 8 4 762 Meiners Oaks Elementary 725 6 2 729 Mira Monte Elementary 798 8 5 799 San Antonio Elementary 846 9 N/A * Summit Elementary X X X X Topa Topa Elementary 785 8 8 786

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Oxnard Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Haydock Intermediate 576 3 5 587 Frank Intermediate 551 2 6 563 Fremont Intermediate 618 4 1 627 Nueva Vista Intermediate 420 1 N/A 439 Brekke Elementary 547 2 3 560 Chavez Elementary 478 1 2 494 Curren Elementary 561 2 2 573 Driffill Elementary 593 3 7 603 Elm Street Elementary 472 1 1 488 Harrington Elementary 549 2 3 562 Kamala Elementary 499 1 1 514 Lemonwood Elementary 652 4 9 659 Marina West Elementary 567 2 1 579 McAuliffe Elementary 657 5 2 664 McKinna Elementary 591 3 8 601 Ramona Elementary 505 1 3 520 Ritchen Elementary 692 6 1 697 Rose Avenue Elementary 658 5 9 665 Sierra Linda Elementary 601 3 4 611

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Oxnard Union High School District

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Camarillo High 740 9 7 743 Channel Islands High 568 3 8 580 Hueneme High 529 2 6 543 Oxnard High 601 4 4 611 Rio Mesa High 585 4 6 596

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Pleasant Valley Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Los Altos Intermediate 780 9 7 781 Monte Vista Intermediate 805 9 9 * Bedford Open Elementary 872 10 6 * Camarillo Heights Elementary 849 10 5 * Dos Caminos Elementary 763 8 2 765 El Descanso Elementary 678 5 3 684 El Rancho Structured Elementary 643 4 3 651 Las Colinas Elementary 850 10 8 * Las Posas Elementary 754 7 5 756 Los Nogales Elementary 764 8 3 766 Los Primeros Structured 869 10 8 * Santa Rosa Elementary 819 9 4 * Valle Lindo Elementary 751 7 3 753 Tierra Linda Elementary 846 9 3 *

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Rio Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target El Rio Elementary 662 5 8 669

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Rio del Valle Elementary 581 3 5 592 Rio Lindo Elementary 680 5 6 686 Rio Plaza Elementary 576 3 6 587 Rio Real Elementary 569 2 8 581 Rio Rosales Elementary 694 6 N/A 699

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Santa Clara Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Santa Clara Elementary 702 6 N/A 707

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Santa Paula Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Isbell Middle 612 4 10 621 Bedell Elementary 707 6 5 712 Blanchard Elementary 645 4 7 653 Glen City Elementary 567 2 5 579 McKevett Elementary 664 5 10 671 Thille Elementary 580 3 8 591 Webster Elementary 547 2 6 560

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Santa Paula Union High

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Santa Paula High 557 3 7 569

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Simi Valley Unified

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Monte Vista (Alternative) 710 8 N/A 715 Royal High ** Santa Susana High 719 8 4 723 Simi Valley High ** Hillside Middle 731 7 1 734 Sinaloa Middle 744 8 2 747 Valley View Middle 771 8 2 772 Atherwood Elementary 788 8 1 789 Berylwood Elementary 656 5 1 663 Big Springs Elementary 836 9 6 * Crestview Elementary 718 6 1 722 Garden Grove Elementary 733 7 1 736 Hollow Hills Elementary 857 10 7 * Justin Elementary 701 6 1 706 Katherine Elementary 753 7 1 755 Knolls Elementary 737 7 1 740 Lincoln Elementary 668 5 1 675 Madera Elementary 771 8 2 772 Mountain View Elementary 702 6 1 707 Park View Elementary 692 6 1 697 Santa Susana Elementary 728 7 7 732 Simi Elementary 815 9 3 * Sycamore Elementary 736 7 1 739 Township Elementary 796 8 2 797 Vista Elementary 885 10 9 * White Oak Elementary 796 8 5 797 Wood Ranch Elementary 849 10 4 *

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Somis Union Elementary

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Somis Elementary 672 5 2 678

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Ventura Unified

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2001 2001 Similar 2002 API rank school target Buena High 683 7 3 689 Foothill Technology High 744 9 10 747 Ventura High 654 6 5 661 Homestead (Alternative) X X X X Anacapa Middle 732 7 5 735 Balboa Middle 740 7 6 743 Cabrillo Middle 781 9 7 782 De Anza Middle 557 2 3 569 Blanche Reynolds Elementary 714 6 5 718 Citrus Glen Elementary 773 8 8 774 Foster Elementary 551 2 3 563 Elmhurst Elementary 738 7 4 741 Juanamaria Elementary 780 8 8 781 Lincoln Elementary 748 7 10 751 Loma Vista Elementary 824 9 4 * Montalvo Elementary 670 5 8 677 Mound Elementary 879 10 7 * Pierpont Elementary 831 9 9 * Poinsettia Elementary 855 10 8 * Portola Elementary 782 8 9 783 Saticoy Elementary 725 6 3 729 Serra Elementary 765 8 4 767 Sunset Elementary 725 6 5 729 Sheridan Way Elementary 509 1 5 524 Will Rogers Elementary 610 3 3 620

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