Reports of academic progress for schools in the state and nation have been released and the Poway Unified School District is pleased to report that the Academic Performance Index score (API) for the District went up six points from 858 to 864, with all PUSD comprehensive high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools exceeding the target of 800 which the state set for all schools to reach by the year 2014.

Valley Elementary School improved its API score of 793 by 12 points, breaking the 800 barrier for the first time. Twenty-one of thirty-two PUSD schools showed gains. One school, Monterey Ridge, received its first API score (877) in 2007. (For a complete listing of school API scores, please see the chart below.)

In 2004-2005, PUSD had four schools with scores over the API score of 900. In 2005-2006 the number increased to 13 schools. The most recent results show an increase to 16 “900+” schools.

The purpose of the Academic Performance Index is to measure the academic performance and growth in schools from year to year. The API serves as the cornerstone of California’s State Testing, Accountability and Reporting program (STAR), and is reported on a numeric scale that ranges from a low of 200 to a high of 1000. It is also one of the 47 measures of the No Child Left Behind requirements. The current statewide target is for all schools to achieve an API of 800 by the year 2014. A school’s growth is measured by how well it is moving toward or past 800. The API combines student performance on the California Achievement Test and the California Standards Tests. For high schools, the results of the California High School Exit Exam are also factored into the results of student performance.

The API is also a component of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). All schools in PUSD made the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) target under the federal government’s No Child Left Behind criteria.

Don Phillips, PUSD Superintendent said, “We continue to excel in our scores that reflect our students’ academic performance. These outstanding results are a tribute to the students, parents, teachers, and staff of PUSD. While we take a moment to celebrate this indicator of student success, we strengthen our commitment to ensure that every student reach the state standard of proficient or advanced and that all our students graduate college ready.”

(see chart below)