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.
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.
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.
Getting a permit to install solar panels on homes in the San Gabriel Valley is costly. A Sierra Club report shows that San Gabriel Valley cities charge more than other Southland communities. The average permit cost to install a typical 20-panel system in Southern California is about $493. Arcadia's fee is $283. A chart shows the fees of surrounding cities.
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.
Census 2000 chart shows the length of time it takes Arcadia and other area community residents to get to work and the percentage of population affected. Census found that locals have shorter drives.
A special report on the Asian population of the San Gabriel Valley. Arcadia is a city with an Asian population near or above 50 percent. A chart shows Asian presence in the San Gabriel Valley and the percentage who speak English "not well" or "not at all."
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.
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.
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.
Fewer than half of the high school students statewide scheduled to graduate in 2004 have passed both the English language arts and mathematics portions of the California High School Exit Exam. Arcadia High School sophomores who took the test last year had the strongest showing in the local area with 89% of the 738 students tested passing math and 88% passing English.
By the 2010 census, Asians and Pacific Islanders will make up more than half of the population in Arcadia and 10 other communities in the San Gabriel Valley.
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.
The unemployment rate in every city in the San Gabriel Valley either went down or stayed flat last month, for the first time in several months, according to state numbers. Still, economists say many people are out of work now compared to this time last year. A chart shows Arcadia has 2000, or 7.3% unemployment. A chart shows numbers for nearby cities.
Many public schools in the west San Gabriel Valley have new teachers and administrators. Arcadia Unified welcomes more than 30 new teachers and a new principal at Arcadia High School.
County home prices were up slightly in April after more than 1.5 years of declines, according to the California Association of Realtors. Arcadia's median home price was $689,090 in April, down 8% from a year ago. A chart shows figures from other local cities.