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.
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.
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.
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 High School students are doing well on the high school exit examinations. 89% of 10th graders taking the math exam passed and 88% passed the English exam. Comparison of test scores with Monrovia, Pasadena, and Los Angeles County.
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.
The California State Department of Education has released test scores and rankings. Every spring the state gives each public school two rankings from 1 to 10. A "statewide" rank compares each school in the state and the "similar schools" rank compares schools with similar demographics and populations. Oak Avenue Intermediate in Temple City Unified School District and Huntington Middle School and San Marino High School in San Marino Unified all got 10s in both categories. All schools in the Arcadia Unified School District earned a rank of 10 in the "statewide" category, but ranks varied in the "similar schools" category.
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.
A chart shows school enrollment numbers from 1998 to 2004. More than 40 percent of the public school districts in California are experiencing declining enrollment. Experts say it is due to a decline in the birth rate and families' migration patterns.
Parents protest Arcadia Unified School District's alleged lack of pandemic precautions for a safe return to class. Thus far, there have been no coronavirus-COVID-19 transmissions in Arcadia schools. The parents have outlined a 9 point list of guidelines they hope the district might consider, including online learning and instruction, enhanced testing and cleaning, social distancing for elementary schools.
Levels of reported crime in most San Gabriel Valley cities are significantly lower than national levels, according to the FBI's 2001 National Crime Index. A chart shows statistics for Arcadia.
Arcadia Unified School District offering free COVID-19 rapid take-home tests for every student through the month of January. They held a drive-through pick-up event on January 4 and 5 at Arcadia Performing Arts Center at 188 Campus Drive. In addition to these rapid tests, which were provided by the California Department of Health, the district also has their regular testing located at Arcadia Education Center, which is for Arcadia Unified School District students and staff, free of charge.
Arcadia Unified School District named the Best School District in Los Angeles, 4th best in the state, according to Niche.com's newly released 2024 rankings. Niche is a prominent school and neighborhood review website. See hard copy in VF Schools-History-2021-2030
Three candidates vie for two seats on Arcadia Unified School District Board. Leigh Chavez and Fenton Eng are currently the respective president and vice president of the school board. In Tuesday's primary election, newcomer Ben Zhang is in the running. Zhang has criticized the current board for its response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A3 and A9, June 9, 2022 for semifinal vote count--incumbents Leigh Chavez and Fenton Eng are ahead.
The votes are in! We have a name for our newest Arcadia Police Department K-9 Officer (canine): Kaiser. Students and staff at Arcadia Unified School District selected the name. Kaiser and Officer Cvetkovich are training to work together in both apprehension and narcotics detection.
Camino Grove Elementary School principal Brook Reynolds had students shave his head because students met his challenge to read for 1 million minutes by March 20.