Schools in the county are strong

Marisa O’Neil

Orange County schools have higher graduation rates, SAT scores and

Academic Performance Index Scores than the statewide average, county

Supt. of Schools William Habermehl told a roomful of educators and

administrators in the 2003 State of Education Address on Wednesday.

The address at the Westin Hotel ballroom focused on the importance

of character education in schools and showed that county schools

generally surpass state and Southern California averages. Those

scores are despite a 31% English-learner student population, higher

than the state average of 25%, Habermehl said.

“The perception in other parts of the country is that Orange

County is all blue-eyed, blond-haired and white and every student

goes to school in a Mercedes,” Habermehl said.

Orange County schools ranked behind only Los Angeles in the number

of newcomer immigrant students from countries from Mexico, Taiwan,

Russia and elsewhere, he said. Having such a high English-learner

student population means that nearly one-third of Orange County

students take performance tests in a language they don’t yet speak,

read or write.

Last year, 883 new immigrant students enrolled in Newport-Mesa

schools, Habermehl said.

“I’m always surprised with the amount of diversity in our

schools,” Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Trustees

Member Dave Brooks said after the presentation. “And seeing the

statistics for the rest of the county and how well the students are

achieving and learning, to me, it’s an affirmation that we’re on the

right track.”

Orange County Schools’ Academic Performance Index Scores ranked

above state averages last year, Habermehl said. Scores were highest

for elementary school students and lowest for high school students.

“[High school students] don’t get their results until they’re

already in the next grade,” he said. “With the little kids, we can

promise a pizza party and they love it. We want to try and tie test

scores with college entrance exams [to give high school students more

incentive].”

Based on total incidents, Orange County also has the safest

schools compared to statewide averages and compared to schools in Los

Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside counties, Habermehl

said.

Investing in education also pays off with safer communities and a

better workforce, he said. Property values may increase from $20,000

to $50,000 in areas with Distinguished or Blue Ribbon schools.

“I’m glad I live in Orange County,” Newport Beach City Councilman

Don Webb said. “I was impressed with the statistics. It’s really

heartening to see how well the county’s doing in relation to the rest

of the state.”

Habermehl credited an increased focus on character education and

helping students learn to make the right choices with the county’s

good showing statistically.

Two Newport-Mesa students -- Corona del Mar High senior Linsey

Wood and Estancia High senior Eliazar Machuca -- attended the address

with Southern California Edison Public Affairs Manager Jane Brown.

Brown said she invited the students after meeting them at a meeting

for Leadership Tomorrow, which holds local seminars.

“We are striving for leadership,” Wood said. “Character education

is very important for that. Academics are important, but people

sometimes forget that character is important, too.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.