All but one regular Arcadia school ranks in the top percentile of schools across California in the API ratings. A comparison to Monrovia and Pasadena schools is included.
A chart shows the API scores for West San Gabriel Valley schools for 2004 on page A4. 85 percent of schools in the West San Gabriel Valley maintained or increased their Academic Performance Index ranking compared to schools across the state.
81 percent of area schools met their growth targets on the California state Academic Performance Index (API). However, 35 percent of West San Gabriel Valley schools failed to meet the federal accountability targets determined by Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. See chart on page A6 for Arcadia Unified School District progress.
Among West Valley districts, the Arcadia Unified School District had the highest percentage of English-proficient students. 64% of the district's English learners scored at the "proficient" level on the English Language Development Test. That compares to 36 percent of English learners statewide who scored proficient on the test.
In Arcadia, 8 schools increased their Academic Performance Index (API) scores and two declined. Dana Middle School and First Avenue Middle School were the schools that showed declines in API scores.
The state Department of Education has revised its Academic Performance Index rankings. Arcadia Unified School District revisions were: Baldwin Stocker Elementary from 4 to 7; Highland Oaks Elementary from 7 to 8; and Holly Avenue Elementary from 8 to 7.
Arcadia schools receive grants for meeting or exceeding the target growth of 5 percent or increasing their Academic Performance Index (API) score by five points.
Area school districts did better than average on the 2004 California English Language Development Test of English learning students. Sixty-six percent of students tested in Arcadia Unified School District scored in the advanced categories.
The Arcadia Unified School District's second annual Robotics Expo involved students with the district's pilot robotics classes. Next year all schools will teach about robotics.
Arcadia schools start on Tuesday, Sept. 2 along with other area schools. Due to state budget cuts students in the Arcadia Unified School District will no longer be buses to school for free. Enrollment for Arcadia 9,720.
Arcadia Unified School District students show impressive scores on the Standard Achievement Test (SAT 9) and on advanced placement tests. See chart of scores from 1994-2001.
Arcadia Unified School District is looking to cut 10% of its budget for district offices and school sites in preparing the budget for the 2003-2004 school year.
Results of the new state test called the CAT-6 (California Achievement Test), which replaces the old SAT-9 test, show that around 70% of the students at each grade level in the Arcadia schools are in the national norm of 50th percentile in reading, and half or more of these students tested at or above the 75th percentile. Each grade level has a breakdown, and comparison with Monrovia students.
Due to errors in the data, the state Department of Education has pulled from its WEB site the list of schools subject to federal monitoring that were based on STAR scores. Arcadia district officials have discovered some anomalies in the data.
Arcadia Unified School District is urging parents by letter to send their children to school if they show no symptoms of the recently discovered Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). SARS was first diagnosed in China and Hong Kong, and is similar to the flu.
The state's budget crisis could mean that Arcadia Unified School District will suffer a shortfall of an estimated $2.3 million in the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Figures for other local school districts are included.
Arcadia Unified School District ranked among the top performers in LA County by the Academic Performance Index ratings. AUSD received an overall rating of 826 out of a possible 900 points.