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# State upgrades marks for local schools
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/state-upgrades-marks-for-local-schools/
- Published: 2004-10-30T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:21:38.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Superintendent pledges continued growth in local school district*

*By Daily Press staff*

DISTRICT HDQTRS. — Local schools have dramatically improved their marks, according to state results released Friday.

Superintendent John Deasy said the Academic Performance Index growth results released by the Department of Education increased in each of the local school district’s major subgroups, with marked improvements among Hispanics and among students impacted by poverty.

The results “clearly indicate that we are achieving our mission with respect to closing the achievement gap while achieving excellence for all students,” Deasy said in a prepared statement. “The results are dramatic.”

According to the “No Child Left Behind” legislation, the State of California calculates API for schools, school districts and up to eight “statistically significant” demographic groups within the schools and school districts.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District population contains five statistically significant demographic groups: African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, White (non-Hispanic) and socio-economically disadvantaged.

The state does not calculate a separate API score for special education and English learner populations.

‘ENVY OF THE NATION’

Growth elsewhere was less robust than in Santa Monica and Malibu. Whereas the state’s high schools only met 47 percent of their API growth targets, and the state’s middle schools only met 55 percent of their goals, the four comprehensive secondary schools in SMMUSD met 89 percent of their API growth targets. And while state elementary schools only met 46 percent of their API growth targets, SMMUSD’s elementary schools met 76 percent of theirs.

In citing these results, Deasy hailed the performance of the district’s schools.

“What this says to us is that not only are our schools already performing at high levels, they continue to push forward and to grow,” he said. “We are so proud of the schools of Santa Monica and Malibu, which are truly model schools, and in fact are the envy of other districts in nation.”

Deasy also referenced achievements among socio-economically disadvantaged students around the district. Nine of the 14 tested schools have statistically significant socio-economically disadvantaged groups, and six of them experienced gains of 20 points or more.

“This is an incredible achievement and it is testament to the extraordinary work of a tremendous cadre of teachers and staff who do not believe that the limitations of wealth have anything to do with a student’s capacity to be successful and to learn,” said Deasy, who also hailed the achievements of African-American and Latino students around the district.

HIGH ACHIEVERS At Santa Monica High School, the African American API score rose 22 points, from 570 to 592, and the Hispanic/Latino API rose 44 points from 565 to 609\. At John Adams, the API for African American students rose 18 points, from 635 to 653, and the API for Hispanic/Latino students rose 44 points, from 640 to 684.

“We are proud of our significant gain in our API scores,” Samohi principal Ilene Straus said. “It is a reflection of our focus on teaching and learning as well as an increased accountability for students and teachers. The growth in our subgroup scores validates the hard work of the Samohi staff and student body. We are continuing to focus on standards-based instruction, common course expectations and accountability for quality work in our classrooms.”

Jose Escarce, chairman of the local school board and a professor of medicine, echoed Straus’s comments and added the increases are across the district.

“It’s tremendously gratifying to see the hard work and dedication of our teachers, administrators and staff pay off,” Escarce said. “‘Raising achievement for all students while closing the achievement gap’ are not just words in our mission statement, we’re actually beginning to get it done. Now we need to stay the course and redouble our efforts.”

THE ELEMENTARY ELEMENT Growth also was widespread at the elementary level. The API scores for socio-economically disadvantaged students increased by 10 or more points in four of the five elementary schools with a statistically significant population. And five elementary schools now have subgroups scoring in the 900s, at the very top of the API continuum.

Al Friedenberg, principal of Grant Elementary School, saw his API score for Hispanic/Latino students increase 26 points, from 734 to 760, and his API score for SES students increase 36 points, from 703 to 739\. “Each demographic group at Grant has experienced a significant increase in its achievement rates over the last five years, and to me it confirms that we have an incredibly talented staff and a very supportive parent community,” he said. “Being such a diverse school, we have been able to meet the academic needs of our students while performing at an exceptionally high level. Our focus is intense. Our teachers care. We have found a way to teach creatively while emphasizing the standards set forth by the state. Numbers don’t always tell the entire story, but continuous improvement validates our commitment to our kids.”

Jerry Harris, principal of Roosevelt Elementary School, also mentioned the high caliber of instruction that pervades his school.

“At Roosevelt we have created an environment where each student feels respected and empowered,” he said. “When given the tools and support, our students can take agency over their learning. The adults in the Roosevelt community have truly taken to heart and acted upon their responsibilities and their role in the success of each child. We believe that every child can learn.”

Deasy added that despite the work that’s been done, there is much more work still to be done in the local school district.

“We must now assiduously work to ensure that every student and every group shares in this tremendous success and we will not rest until that happens,” he said. “We take a moment now to celebrate this milestone, and tomorrow we roll our sleeves up and continue to make dramatic gains. Our kids deserve nothing less.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 30, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/103004.pdf?ref=smdp.com)