Where does your school rank?

Each year, the state gives all schools rankings based on test scores. Schools can rank from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. To find out how your school did go here:

api.cde.ca.gov/reports/page2.asp

You can also see there how groups of students within your school did (i.e. African American, Hispanic, white, Asian, students with disabilities, socioeconomically disadvantaged students). If you look at those API numbers, you'll see the much talked about achievement gap at many schools, meaning API scores for some groups will be lower than for others. One of the goals of No Child Left Behind is to make sure all students perform equally regardless of race or income.
The results there also include:
State ranking which show how schools compare with others across the state. Those with a ranking of 1, rank in the bottom 10 percent of schools statewide. Those with a 10 rank in the top 10 percent of schools statewide. There's also a similar schools ranking that shows how schools are doing just compared to schools with similar types of students.

It's important to keep in mind 10 percent of schools will always get a 1, and 10 percent will always get a 10. That's the way the system is built.

The results also include an API base, which is a reflection of last year's test scores. They also include an API target, which is the API the state expects your school to reach this school year.

In Kern County, APIs are generally going up but still aren't as high as the rest of the state. Generally, educators say that's because we have a huge number of students learning English here (which makes it harder to do well on state tests) and more students from low-income families than in some other areas of the state.

The accountability system seems kind of complicated at first. It's all part of the state and federal governments' efforts to make sure no child is left behind (per the legislation No Child Left Behind). The tests students take each spring are part of what the state uses to get these API and ranking numbers.

In the late summer/ fall, the state will release the actual results of those tests (i.e. how many kids can read, do math, science at grade level). The state will then also release more figures showing whether local schools are progressing fast enough toward meeting the goal of No Child Left Behind: that all students be proficient in math and reading by 2014.

Any questions?

(disclaimer: I can respond to questions with factual answers, such as how this system works or what a specific number means, but I can't respond to philosophical questions or give any opinions).