Marin Schools

Marin schools shine on state testing

Marin Independent Journal, Rob Rogers, 05/21/2008

Superintendent Bob Ferguson couldn't be prouder.

While Marin schools have traditionally done well in the state's annual Academic Performance Index report, released Tuesday, the three schools in his Tamalpais Union High School District had something extra to crow about.

Redwood, Sir Francis Drake and Tamalpais high schools were the county's only high schools to receive API scores higher than 800, the state's standard for academic achievement.

"I couldn't ask for anything more," Ferguson said. "Tamalpais High School jumped over 50 points in the API, and all of them went up to 10" in statewide rank - the state's highest - he added. "This just shows that if you have excellent teachers and a good curriculum, your students will learn."

Of the county's 61 traditional schools, 72 percent - up from 69 percent last year - received scores greater than 800.

"Marin continues to show improvement in terms of state accountability," said Susan Spain, deputy superintendent of schools. "Last year, 41 of our schools had scores of 800 or more. This year, 44 schools received that score."

The county's scores continue to exceed state averages. About 71 percent of Marin's elementary schools received API scores of 800 or higher as opposed to 36.7 percent of elementary schools statewide. About 90 percent of the county's middle schools and 30 percent of its high schools scored higher than 800, compared with 24.6 percent of California middle schools and 14.5 percent of the state's high schools.

API scores, which range from 200 to 1,000, measure student performance on several statewide tests in grades 2 through 11, including the California Standards Tests, California Alternate Performance Assessment and the California High School Exit Examination.

"Since the inception of the API, the median score for each decile ranking has increased each year," said Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction. "This reflects significant gains in student achievement in our schools."

The API ranks each of the state's schools on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 representing the best. It also provides a comparison with 100 other schools that share similar qualities, such as class size, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Twenty-five Marin schools received a 10 ranking; six more received a nine.

The county had 18 schools with API scores of 900 or greater, including every school in Mill Valley. Novato's Rancho Elementary and Reed Union's Bel Aire Elementary tied for Marin's highest score with 951.

Other top-scoring schools included Edna Maguire Elementary in Mill Valley, Ross School, and Brookside Elementary and Wade Thomas Elementary in San Anselmo, each of which received the highest possible rankings statewide and among similar schools.

"Once you get in the '10' category (of statewide ranks), you really have to maintain yourself," Ferguson said. "But with the very supportive parents and excellent teachers we have, there's no reason why we should not expect to keep our scores up there."

Sausalito's Martin Luther King Jr. Academy had Marin's lowest score, at 638. All of the school's test-takers in 2007 were classified by the state as "economically disadvantaged" as opposed to 2.4 percent of students at Rancho Elementary and 1.1 percent at Bel Aire Elementary.

Two Novato schools - San Marin High and Pleasant Valley Elementary - did not receive API scores this year because they were disqualified by the state. At San Marin, Assistant Principal Mike Casper forgot to schedule the life sciences portion of an exam for about 60 students. At Pleasant Valley, a former teacher reviewed questions and coached students in a manner not allowed under testing guidelines.