Most Campbell Schools Gained Ground on Test Performance in 2013

Blackford and Rosemary elementary schools in the Campbell Union School District were the big winners in 2013, with a 24-point jump on student test performance last year, according to numbers released Thursday by state school chief Tom Torlakson. 

Blackford Elementary increased 24 points from the 2012 Base Academic Performance Index of 760 to a 2013 Growth API of 784. Rosemary Elementary also grew by 24 points from the 2012 Base Academic Performance Index of 811 to a 2013 Growth API of 835. Lynhaven Elementary also saw a gain in its API score, jumping 18 points from the 2012 Base API of 790 to a 2013 Growth API of 808, bringing it above the state benchmark of 800.

At Campbell Union High School District, all but one school saw gains in 2013. Prospect High School saw the biggest jump, increasing its 2012 Base Academic Performance Index of 775 to a 2013 Growth API of 794, a 19-point jump. Leigh High School also saw a jump, increasing its 2012 Base Academic Performance Index of 819 to a 2013 Growth API of 833, a 14-point jump.

At Moreland School District, only one school saw gains in 2013. Payne Elementary School saw a 5-point gain, increasing its 2012 Base Academic Performance Index of 896 to a 2013 Growth API of 901.

The API is a score ranging from 200 to 1,000 that measures how well students do on a variety of tests, including the California Standards Test and the state’s high school exit exam. The state has set 800 as the API target for all schools to meet. Here’s a detailed summary of the API from the California Department of Education.

At Campbell Union School District, all but three schools have met the state's 800-point benchmark. Blackford did have the highest jump in 2013 but is still 16 points shy of the benchmark at 784. Campbell Middle School is 45 points shy of the 800 mark, with a score of 755 and Monroe Middle School is 16 points shy of the benchmark, with a score of 784.

The largest drop occurred at Castlemont Elementary, with an 18-point drop in 2013, leaving it at 811.

At Campbell Union High School District, two out of its five schools have met the state's 800-point benchmark. Prospect had the highest jump in 2013 but is still six points shy of the benchmark at 794. Westmont High School had no change in its 2013 Grown API score, leaving it four points shy of the 800 benchmark at 796. Del Mar High School backslid in 2013, leaving it 106 points shy of the benchmark at 694.

The largest drop occurred at Del Mar High School, with a 9-point drop in 2013.

At Moreland School District, all of its six schools have met the state's 800-point benchmark.

The largest drop occurred at Baker Elementary School, with a 23-point drop in 2013, leaving it at 907.

Statewide, the number of California schools meeting the state target for student performance on standardized tests dropped by 2 percent.

In 2013, 51 percent of the state’s schools earned an Academic Performance Index score of 800 or above, compared to 53 percent the previous year.

Based on 2013 test scores, 56 percent of elementary schools, 50 percent of middle schools, and 31 percent of high schools are now at or above the 800 mark.

In the last decade, the number of schools meeting the target of an 800 API has increased by 30 percent.

The state’s overall API dropped two points to 789 from 791, but Torlakson was quick to note that the statewide API for poor students and students learning English increased five points and one point, respectively.