Arcadia, Alhambra, Monrovia, Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Gabriel, San Marino and Temple City public schools all showed improvement on California state API testing that measures English and math performance. Duarte Unified showed a drop from the previous year.
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.
Eight school districts in the West San Gabriel Valley, including Arcadia Unified School District, showed year-to-year increases in Academic Performance Index (API) scores. The API measures student proficiency in English and math.
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.
Grades are in: San Marino Unified is still tops in state test. About 90% of San Marino Unified students met state standards in English and about 85% met state standards in math. In comparison, 79% of Arcadia Unified School District students met state standards in English and 76% met state standards in math.
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.
Arcadia gets top marks in county API scores. Arcadia Unified School District has three of the top four highest scoring middle schools on the Academic Performance Index. Foothills Middle School ranked first, tied with Huntington Middle School in San Marino. First Avenue Middle School and Dana Middle School also ranked in the top four in Los Angeles County.
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 Unified School District test scores among highest in Southern California, according to new statewide test results released by California Department of Education. Arcadia scored 40% higher than the state average for math and 26% higher in English language arts/literacy.
Dropout rates for eight of nine school districts across the western end of the San Gabriel Valley decreased, according to state numbers released yesterday. Monrovia, Arcadia, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City, Alhambra, and Duarte school districts all measured decreases in their dropout rates for the 2009-2010 academic year, when compared to the previous year.
Arcadia Unified School District middle schools First Avenue, Foothills, and Dana, make it to the top 12 of 2018 Niche rankings of public middle schools in the Los Angeles area. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 14, November 2, 2017.
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.
Arcadia Unified School District upgraded and improved four campuses over summer break, costing nearly $10 million. Funded under the district's $218 million Measure I Bond, the four schools that got updated classrooms and facilities are Arcadia High School, Camino Grove Elementary, Hugo Reid Elementary, and Highland Oaks Elementary schools.
Seven area schools designated as "California Distinguished," including Camino Grove Elementary, Highland Oaks Elementary, and Longley Way Elementary from Arcadia Unified School District. The others are from Azusa Unified, San Gabriel Unified and Pasadena Unified school districts.
Dr. Brent Forsee, Principal of Arcadia High School for seven years now, is being recommended as next Arcadia Unified School District Assistant Superintendent. If approved, Dr. Forsee would succeed Dr. Jeff Wilson, who is being recommended as next Superintendent of San Marino Unified School District.