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Organization: Newhall School District
Date: September 4, 2008
Newhall District Schools Show Strong Performance According to State Index
The September 4th release of the California's Academic Performance Index (API) and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measures once again validated the strong performance of the ten elementary schools within the Newhall School District. Newhall's district wide API leaped from 873 last year to 882 this year, making it the highest ranking school district in the Santa Clarita Valley. The district's API has steadily increased for the last five years and Newhall has topped the Santa Clarita Valley's district API list for the last three years.
The state goal for the API is 800. Four of Newhall's schools (Stevenson Ranch, Valencia Valley, Oak Hills, and Pico Canyon Elementary Schools) have APIs that exceed 900 on the state's 1000 point scale. Valencia Valley showed a thirty-two point gain this year, rising to 909. McGrath Elementary shattered the 800 mark, moving fifty points, from 783 last year to 833 this year.
The API is based on the State's STAR testing so the results came as no surprise to Newhall administrators who have been analyzing STAR scores since they were released in late August.
Nancy Copley, assistant superintendent of instruction for Newhall, said there are many factors that contribute to the district's success. "We have been training teachers in a cohesive writing program for six years. Writing is such a powerful skill that it affects every other aspect of achievement and we are seeing the results. We have also been concentrating on the academic needs of English Language Learners and training teachers in effective instructional methods for these students. Our teachers know effective instruction and work very hard, at every site, to take all children to their highest potential. The API is a validation of their efforts."
The district also reached its Adequate Yearly Progress benchmarks. The Adequate Yearly Progress report is required by the No Child Left Behind Act. This measure requires that all groups within the school, by ethnicity, language ability, and socio-economic standing make adequate progress towards proficiency as measure by the state's STAR assessments.
The current API in Newhall is an admirable accomplishment in a district where about 21% of the students have limited English skills. At some sites (McGrath, Newhall, Wiley Canyon,
Peachland Schools) the limited English students make up a third to a half of the student population.
"It is a huge challenge to insure that certain groups, especially those with limited English skills, reach proficiency in the required numbers," said Bob Jensen, president of the district's Governing Board. "The fact that we continue to reach State goals, even with students who, by definition, should not be proficient because of their language limitations, is a tribute to our hard working teachers and effective principals. We are very proud of the job our staff does at all our schools."
