State of mind: Area students exceed standards
By Daily Press staff
DISTRICT HDQTRS. — Santa Monica’s public school system is among the best in the state in preparing students for university, according to data distributed by the University of California this week.
Local students met course requirements for both UC and California State University systems at rates that surpassed other schools in similar communities, and far surpassed state averages, according to the report based on high school graduates in 2002.
That holds true for what officials term the “underrepresented” — minority and poor students. Only 22 percent of minority students statewide were eligible for the university systems, while in Santa Monica that number was 49 percent. In Malibu, it reached 55 percent.
Among white and Asian students, eligibility statewide was at 44 percent, as compared to 81 percent in Santa Monica and 67 percent in Malibu. “I am extremely pleased with the achievement of all of our diverse student body,” said John Deasy, superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. “These results are validation of the success of the district’s efforts to raise academic achievement while closing the achievement gap.”
“I am extremely pleased with the achievement of all of our diverse student body.” — — JOHN DEASY Superintendent, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Local schools also exceeded the state target on standardized tests.
Called the Academic Performance Index, the rating reflects achievement in a variety of tests that cover the arts, mathematics, history and social sciences, among other subjects.
In 2003, every school in Santa Monica earned a mark of more than 680 on a scale that ranges from 200 to 1,000. Eight of the 14 district schools exceeded the state target of 800, eclipsing the state average. In addition, 70 percent of local elementary schools and half of the middle schools met the mark. High schools were close with scores of 688 at Samohi and 796 at Malibu, according to district officials.
Overall in 2002, eight of the district’s then-13 schools — 61.5 percent — were above the state target, the same as in 2003.
That’s compared to between 15 percent and 22 percent of schools statewide.
SMMUSD elementary schools in 2003 earned the most increases since 1999 — ranging from a 26-point increase at some schools to a 110-point increase at Will Rogers Elementary and a 161-point increase at John Muir Elementary. Lincoln Middle School’s score increased by 15 points, while John Adams’ increased 90 points, according to the data released Thursday.
“Our schools clearly are on the path of excellence,” Deasy said. “As our work on secondary education and high school redesign proceeds, we expect to see all secondary schools reaching the state target, also.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 20, 2004. Read the original PDF.