Encinitas Union School District
101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road
Encinitas, California 92024-4349
Phone: (760) 944-4300 | FAX (760) 944-4393

Encinitas schools improve scores
Improvement in past three years evident in five grades,
based on SAT-9 results

Adam Kaye
Staff Writer
North County Times

Encinitas Union School District pupils in grades two  through six improved their percentile rankings on the most recent Stanford Achievement Test  by an average of 13.2 percent  over their performance in 1997.     The statistics, which are the  basis for this calculation by the  North County Times, are part of  a state report presented by district officials to the school board  Tuesday.     Board member Carol Skiljan  said that the numbers provided  by the state to the district offer  only a peek at the district's performance and that more data  are to come.     However, she said the preliminary SAT-9 report makes her   feel "optimistic."      "When we see how we stack   up against (other schools in) the   county and state, I anticipate it   will be good news just like it   was last year," she said.     

The district's 3,561 second-   through sixth-graders took the   Stanford Achievement Test-Ninth Edition in May. The test is    a yardstick used by state officials to measure the academic   performance of 8,300 public   schools. The scores are incorporated in an Academic Performance Index for each school,   which also is weighted to take   into account each school's resources and the demographic   characteristics of its students. 

The first set of APIs were issued   this year.      Under the Public Schools Accountability Act, schools where    SAT-9 scores don't improve can    be closed and their principals  fired. On the other hand, the   governor's Performance Award   Program offers awards up to   $150 per student to schools   which meet or exceed required   improvements.      

The statistics presented to   the board show that each grade   level at the district's eight   schools has improved its percentile ranking in reading,   mathematics, language and   spelling.       The SAT-9 is used nationwide   and results are presented in percentiles, with the 1st percentile   representing the lowest level of   test performance and 100 the   top.      

The district's sixth-graders   ranked in the 80th percentile   for reading, 86th percentile for   math, 81st percentile for language-and 73rd percentile for   spelling.       A glance at scores from previous years shows many three-year improvement trends.       For instance, fourth-graders   who were in the 69th percentile   in language three years ago are   now in the 81st percentile as   sixth-graders.       In spelling, second-graders   who were in the 56th percentile   are now in the 69th percentile   as fourth-graders.       In mathematics, pupils now   in the sixth grade have improved their scores from the   66th percentile to the 86th percentile in the past three years.       

"That's pretty phenomenal'   said Bonnie Drolet, the district's   assistant superintendent for instruction, referring to the sixth-grade math scores.       

While all grade levels have   shown improvement in their   scores in the last three years, the   class that has shown the most   improvement is the third grade,   bringing up its combined rankings in all disciplines by 20.5   percent since 1997-98.       The second grade has improved its combined total rankings by 17 percent since 1997-98; the fourth grade by 11.2 percent; fifth grade by 9.7 percent;   and sixth grade by 7.7 percent.