Here are the highlights: (See attached PDF file for all charts mentioned in this report)

1. VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS 31 POINTS HIGHER THAN STATE IN MEDIAN API GROWTH [Chart 1]

2. THE MEDIAN GROWTH API SCORE OF 785 FOR VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS RISEN 61 POINTS OVER WHAT IT WAS IN 2000. [Chart 1]

3. 86% OF VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS MADE API GROWTH

4. 83% OF ALL UNIFIED AND HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN VENTURA COUNTY MET THEIR FEDERAL GRADUATION RATE TARGET

5. 55% OF VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOLS MET THE FEDERAL ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS REQUIREMENT

“There is continued reason to be proud of our Ventura County students, teachers, administrators, and parents who are working together to continuously support improved student achievement,” stated County Superintendent of Schools, Stan Mantooth.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX (API) – [Chart 1]
The Academic Performance Index (API) is the cornerstone of California’s Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999. The API is a numeric index that measures the academic performance and growth of schools. The API is an important part of the federal measure of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) because it shows academic growth over time. Since 2000, the median API for Ventura County has shown a steady increase, rising 61 points to 785. At the present time, 76% of all schools have an API above 700, 43% have an API above the State target of 800, including 19 schools that have a 900 API or higher.

Mr. Mantooth stated, “In reviewing the county wide results we are seeing some positive growth in many of our schools and districts, but most impressive are the gains in districts with a higher concentration of English Language Learners and children living in poverty.” For example, in the elementary districts of Rio, Hueneme, Ocean View and Santa Paula we have seen strong, steady growth on their API scores. The Oak Park Unified and Briggs Elementary School Districts both made the greatest overall gain of any district in Ventura County, each advancing 25 points. Santa Paula Elementary was not far behind with a 17 point gain over last year. Rio del Mar Elementary in the Rio School District led all schools in the county with a 99 point gain over last year. These kinds of advancements do not happen by accident and reflect a focused effort on the part of our schools and school districts.

This year, Pacifica High School in the Oxnard Union High School District advanced 52 points, the highest gain for a comprehensive high school in the county; while Rio del Valle Middle School in Rio Elementary School District had a 33 point gain, the highest for a middle school in the county. Rio Elementary School District also had the largest API gains at both the elementary and middle school level.

Ventura Islands High School, an alternative program in Ventura Unified received the top API growth honor at 163 points. The alternative and continuation schools continue to show improvement with higher gains in the API being seen throughout the county. “These students, often the hardest to serve, need tremendous support both academically and personally. At one time these young people might have been left behind, but the results show that they can succeed when receiving a standards-based education that is preparing them for a productive future,” stated Mr. Mantooth.

The highest overall API score for an elementary school in Ventura County is Santa Clara Elementary at 949. The highest middle school API score is Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park Unified with an API score of 905; and the highest API score for a comprehensive high school is Foothill Technology High School in Ventura Unified School District with an API score of 895.

Schools throughout Ventura County have worked hard to improve student achievement. Changes utilized in this effort include: having teacher teams use data to target individual student needs; hiring Literacy, English Language Development and Mathematics coaches; providing extensive professional development for teachers and administrators on standards based instructional materials and research based practices; finding time for teachers to collaborate and focus on examining student work; providing extensive support from district office administration; and in some cases, restructuring of the school itself.

FEDERAL ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP) – [Charts 2-7]
The AYP, which includes the API, provides a consistent measure of our schools as federal accountability requirements are being implemented. The five year trend for federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) has also been positive, with more students scoring at or above proficient in English/language arts and mathematics AYP criteria than in 2003. These data are especially encouraging considering the measure of percent proficient has increased over that time period and more students are being tested than in years past. This year, targets jumped significantly at all school levels.

Twenty-four percent (24%) of Ventura County School Districts met all of the federal Adequate Yearly Progress requirements. While this is a decrease from 2006-07, this drop primarily reflects the increased federal AYP target. Ninety-five percent (95%) of Ventura County districts showed an increase in the percent of students showing proficiency in English/Language Arts, and 81% of Ventura County districts showed an increase in the percent of students showing proficiency in Math. As in past years, districts with high numbers of English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and students of poverty have greater difficulty meeting their AYP requirements. However, with the many strategies being utilized, progress is being made in all districts. However, there is still much work to be done.

Ventura County schools are making sure that all students are receiving a rigorous, standards-based instructional program. This work to “close the achievement” gap is showing very positive results. Across the county, at all grade levels, the percent of subgroup students showing proficiency in English/Language Arts has grown significantly since 2003/04 [Charts 8-10]. Across all grade levels combined, the percent of Ventura County Hispanic students showing proficiency in English/Language Arts has grown from 24% in 2003/04 to 37% in 2007/08; the percent of Socioeconomically Disadvantaged students showing ELA proficiency has increased from 22% to 35%; the percent of English Learner students showing ELA proficiency has increased from 16% to 28%; and the percent of Special Education students showing ELA proficiency has increased from 18% to 31%. Mathematics results are showing even more significant growth in performance levels. [Charts 11-13]

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires that the State set a graduation rate target as an additional indicator of Adequate Yearly Progress for all schools and districts with high school students. Eighty-three percent of the Unified and Union High School Districts in Ventura County met their federal graduation rate target.
“Schools in Ventura County are continuously improving their instruction in the rigorous academic content standards that have been established by the State. More students are improving their mastery of those standards and we are seeing progress in closing the achievement gap,” commented Mr. Mantooth.

For additional information on the Accountability Progress Report, please visit the following website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/apr/

Please find attached below, an Adobe PDF of all charts mentioned in this report.