Schools

Los Gatos Schools Shine on API

High school district, which includes Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools, reaches all-time high score of 905 this year.

 

Los Gatos schools, from those located in the mountains, to those within our valley boundaries, received stellar Academic Performance Index scores, according to the latest data released Thursday morning by the California Department of Education.

The Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District scored an impressive 905 in 2012, a gain of 1 point from its 2011 base score of 904, while Los Gatos High School scored 886, two points higher than last year's 884.

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Similarly, Saratoga High School maintained its impressive 933 score that it received last year.

Since 2007, LGSUHSD has experienced steady API growth, reaching an all time district high of 905 this year, district officials raved. The score exceeds the statewide, grade 9‐11 API of 752 by 157 points. The report also reflects the district met its goals for all groups of students.

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LGSUHSD Board of Education President Cynthia Chang said trustees are very proud of the estimated 3,100-plus students’ achievement. "This reflects their hard work, the commitment of our teachers and staff, and the incredible support of our parent community," she said.

Chang thanked the broader Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga communities for their support of a $49 parcel tax approved last year, which provides needed resources for the district's rigorous core academic programs.

LGSUHSD Superintendent Bob Mistele noted: “Our goal is to have our students graduate from our campuses as well‐rounded citizens prepared for college and a chosen career. One component of that is academic achievement."

He continued: "This new API information validates the efforts of our students, teachers, classified staff and parent community to promote this success.”

Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent Diana Abbati was pleased that all five campuses under her watch scored above 900.

"The key to LGUSD academic success is the dedication of teachers, administrators, staff, parents and community organizations who continue to support our students with a well-balanced curriculum that addresses the academic, social and emotional needs of each and every child. It is the incredible effort of all members of the Los Gatos learning community that we continue to provide our students with an enriched and diverse academic experience focused on quality core instruction and 21st learning," she wrote in a letter this afternoon she was sendind to the district community.

California uses the API as a measure of the academic progress for California’s schools and districts as part of the Public Schools Accountability Act passed by the California legislature in 1999.

API scores range from a low of 200 to a high of 1000. The measure includes dropout rates and student assessments in mathematics, English, science and social studies.

The API is calculated by converting a student’s performance across multiple content areas into points on the API scale. The points are then averaged across all students and all tests, resulting in the API.

API scores are calculated for all students in a school in addition to API scores for each subgroup such as race, English learner status, students with disabilities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged.

For a complete look at California’s 2011 API, please click here.

Los Gatos Patch will update this story as more Los Gatos school officials respond to the data.

LOS GATOS SCHOOLS

2012 GROWTH 2011 BASE 2011-12 GROWTH Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District 905 904 +1 Los Gatos High School 886 884 +2 Saratoga High School 933 933 0 Los Gatos Union School District 935 930 +5 Blossom Hill Elementary School
959 954 +5 Daves Avenue Elementary School
917 918 -1 Lexington Elementary School
907 906 +1 Louise Van Meter Elementary School
947 937 +10 Raymond J. Fisher Middle School 934 928 +6 Loma Prieta Union Elementary School District 932 929 +3 Loma Prieta Elementary School 926 931 -5 C.T. English Middle School 939 928 +11 Lakeside Joint School District 966 968 -2 Lakeside Elementary School 966 968 -2


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