East Valley Schools See Significant Improvement in Test Scores

Principal waited until Wednesday for the final number. She knew that her school had improved on some of the state’s standardized test scores, but the school’s number hadn't yet been finalized by the district.

“We knew we had 82-something, and that was more than last year’s 812, but we wanted to see if we surpassed our goal, which was 821,” Tobin said. “Turns out, we did better.” 

And so, a big sign at the entrance of the main building that students will see on the first day of school will display a big "8-2-8" with the names of every student on campus and a big congratulations.

“I’m overall pretty happy,” said Tobin, who is still analyzing the numbers and reviewing the sub-groups where they still need to improve. “We made some wonderful gains in algebra, specifically. This is a great tribute to the teachers as well as the staff and the kids.”

Every one of the 12 schools in the eastern end of the San Fernando Valley saw gains in their test scores. saw the biggest gain, of 43 points, to 758, while other schools with big point gains were Toluca Lake, Lankershim, Saticoy and schools.

(Continued after chart) 

PUBLIC SCHOOL

2011 Score

2010 Score

Point Change

Carpenter Community Charter

930

912

18

Colfax Charter Elementary

910

893

17

Dixie Canyon Avenue Elementary

893

881

12

Fair Avenue Elementary

834

813

21

Lankershim Elementary

784

752

32

North Hollywood Senior High

758

715

43

Rio Vista Elementary

866

857

9

Riverside Drive Elementary

852

830

22

Saticoy Elementary

814

782

32

Toluca Lake Elementary

846

807

39

Valley View Elementary

845

820

25

Walter Reed Middle

828

812

16

* from California Department of Education

“I’m thrilled with our test results,” said Principal at Valley View, who started there in the second half of the last school year. Her school’s numbers increased 25 points to 845. “We have had a significant number of students score a perfect 600 on their tests.”

The Academic Performance Index, or API, measures the test performance and growth of schools with a variety of academic measures. Some of it is based on test results of the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program, the California High School Exit Exam and the California Alternate Performance Assessment. The numbers can change, depending on errors in demographic data and other adjustments.

When scores reach as high as 900, it’s more difficult to go higher, yet both public charter schools in the area did so. rose to a score of 910 and did the near impossible of jumping 18 points to 930—the highest score in the area.

The school board representative for the area, said, “We should be looking at what works. We have to find ways to duplicate this success at every single school.”

The overall showed increases in English and in math scores. The biggest challenge continues to be to bridge the gap between white and Latino/African-American students.

To find out more about your school’s test scores, go to the California Department of Education website. (star.cde.ca.gov)