Students get high marks in state testing

The majority of students in grades two to 11 at Laguna Beach Unified School District campuses were rated as advanced or proficient across multiple categories, according to the STAR report for the district.

In English-language arts, all but two grades had more than 50% of students score in the advanced category. Grade four had the highest percentage, with 68% of students rated as advanced. Grade three was the lowest, with 38% of students categorized as advanced.

In mathematics for grades two through seven, most had more than 50% of students ranked as advanced.

In science for grades 5, 8 and 10, a majority placed in the advanced or proficient categories. Grade eight had the highest number of students, 88% of the 228 tested, placed in the advanced ranking.

Most of the grades had small percentages — some as low as 1% — in the below basic category for several subjects.

However, some students struggled in categories such as math. In algebra 1, 42% of 10th graders scored basic. Similarly in geometry, 47% of 10th-graders scored basic.

“Thanks to exemplary teachers, outstanding students, supportive parents, effective site administrators, and a Board of Education committed to excellence, the percentage of LBUSD students scoring ‘proficient’ and ‘advanced’ increased in virtually every core content area,” said Deni Christensen, assistant superintendent of instructional services, in an email. “As a result, we anticipate that each of our schools will see a resulting increase in Academic Performance Index (API) when those numbers are calculated and released by the state in early October.”

To view the complete results, go to star.cde.ca.gov.

joanna.clay@latimes.com

Twitter: @joannaclay