Los Gatos School Districts Best State, County on STAR Tests, But Lose Ground Internally

Santa Clara County students posted scores nearly 10 percent higher than students in the rest of California in 2012 for four tested disciplines - English, math, history, and science - according to new standardized test results released by the state on Friday.

And the two primary Los Gatos school districts - Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High and Los Gatos Union Elementary - far outpaced Santa Clara County averages in 2012 results, according to the California Department of Education.

Yet there is some cause for concern; within the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High District, history and math scores from 2011 to 2012 dropped between 1 and 2 percent. English scores rose a little over 1 percent, science results were up 0.6 percent.

Within the Los Gatos Union Elementary District, English, math and science scores were up by 1 to 3 percent; history scores dropped almost 3 percent.  

Nearly 4.7 million California students took the 2012 Standardized Testing and Reporting assessment, known as STAR, last spring, and fewer than 57 percent of those state students scored proficient or better in English-language arts.

By contrast, more than 67 percent of Santa Clara County students were proficient or better in English, and in Los Gatos, between 85 percent and 88 percent were proficient or better. 

STAR scores are used to calculate schools' Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress report. Dropout and exit exam rates also factor into the API and AYP assessments.

Below are comparisons between 2011 and 2012 STAR results.*

Countywide

Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High District

Los Gatos Union Elementary District

*All numbers are from the California Department of Education's website.