> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Santa Monica-Malibu Schools Reach Record 817 API Score, Above State Target - URL: https://www.smdp.com/up-and-up/ - Published: 2006-09-07T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T21:22:46.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import *District test scores exceed state average* SMMUSD HDQTRS — Santa Monica-Malibu students once again proved they are among California’s elite, scoring well above the statewide average on standardized tests for the second consecutive year, according to data released by the California Department of Education. The district’s Academic Performance Index, or API — which measures students’proficiency in English and math — climbed 11 points over last year’s score to reach a new high of 817\. The numeric index ranges from a low of 200 to a high of 1,000.The statewide target for all schools is 800. Schools across the district also reached targets set by No Child Left Behind, a sweeping federal education law that requires schools to improve student achievement annually or face consequences for several consecutive years of failure. Such consequences can include the transfer of students to other schools in the district and a complete reorganization of the administration and faculty at a campus. “There’s no doubt, Santa Monica-Malibu’s growth … is simply remarkable,” said Superintendent Dianne Talarico. Nine of the district’s schools are now scoring above the 800 mark, with four SMMUSD schools — Franklin, Point Dume, Roosevelt and Webster — scoring above 900. However, when dissected, the API scores reveal not all schools, nor all students, fared as well as others. At Will Rogers Elementary and John Adams Middle schools, scores dropped by four and six points respectively. The current scores — 768 at Rogers and 761 at JAMS — are significantly higher than those registered five years ago. This proves progress is being made despite the recent dip, district officials said. “We don’t get concerned when a school goes down one year,” said Maureen Bradford, director of educational services for the district.“We expect the scores to fluctuate up and down slightly because we have different groups of kids taking the exams each year. Of course, we want to make sure we are supporting schools and that the decreases don’t become more dramatic.” Bradford said it is difficult for students to continue posting record numbers as scores are bound to level off. “Across the state, schools that are achieving at the very high end of the spectrum have seen their growth become less significant, but fortunately for us our schools have continued to climb,” Bradford said. Compared to other local school districts, Santa Monica-Malibu is faring well. Los Angeles-Unified, the second-largest school district in the nation, averaged an API score of 658, while smaller districts in affluent areas scored much higher. This included an API score of 906 in Manhattan Beach Unified School District. Santa Monica-Malibu students in all but one sub-group also raised their API scores, some by double digits. For African-Americans, their API score jumped by 14 points to 692, while the statewide average was 637\. For Latinos, their score increased by 17 points to 715\. The statewide average is 654\. Students with disabilities also posted impressive gains, increasing their score to 606, a 14 point bump. When compared to white and Asian students, the numbers are not as encouraging. Asian students posted an API score of 903, while white students obtained a score of 875, demonstrating that the achievement gap between particular groups of students is still a reality. “It’s important to remember that API scores are only one measure,” said Tricia Crane, former chair of the District Advisory Community on Special Education, which advises the school board on issues affecting students with disabilities. “The information brought to the board about the grades of secondary students from the RAND Corp. must be included in a genuine analysis of the complex correspondence between the two. One does not negate the validity and importance of the other.” The report showed that many Latino male students were receiving failing grades, Crane said. Bradford said administrators are aware of the struggle many students face and are using every tool at their disposal to help them, including tutoring programs and specialized instruction. District officials are hoping a new database that allows teachers to monitor a student’s progress throughout their entire academic career will help them better tailor their lesson plans and give them a better understanding of which students need help the most and in what areas. “This will make it very easy for teachers to be able to go back several years and to follow a student once they’ve left,” Bradford said. “Teachers really enjoy that. They work hard with the kids, and they want to see how they are doing.” The standardized test scores will be used throughout the fall as district officials plan for staff development and additional support for school sites. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 7, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/090706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)