Twelve of Morgan Hill's 14 schools are performing worse than their counterparts statewide, according to a California Department of Education report released today.
Burnett Elementary School, El Toro Elementary School, Jackson Elementary School and Martin Murphy Middle School were ranked in the lowest decile of the Academic Performance Index, which compares schools of similar demographics.
These four schools scored a one out of 10.
The rankings place schools in groups of 100 similar schools in the state, based on ethnicity, socio-economics, teachers' experience and other information and then rank them based on a mash-up of test scores at the state and national level, including the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT 9) and the California Standards Test (CST). Scores can range from 200 to 1000, with 800 being the goal, according to Department of Education spokeswoman Pam Slater.
"It is important to note that today's report is based on 2006-07 data," Superintendent Alan Nishino said in a statement. "The results of the testing that district students just finished will be known in the fall of this year and we believe the results will show that we are doing much better."
He noted that the API report showed five district schools improved their API score, which the rankings are based on. Burnett, Jackson and San Martin-Gwinn Elementary Schools, Britton Middle School and Ann Sobrato High School all showed improvement in their scores from the previous school year.
Yet, in the similar school rankings, only San Martin-Gwinn made the jump from being in the bottom half to the top half, with a seven compared to 2006's three.
Martin Murphy Principal Barbara Nakasone said the school has been aware of what areas school administrators need to work on, since they've had results of the tests the API report is based on for some time.
"This just tells us how others are doing, and we can see how we're standing with other schools," she said, adding that she's more concerned with long-term change than yearly rankings. "We have the best staff I've seen in a long time. We're working very hard to make the system changes that are going to produce long term results. We're already seeing a rise in individual reading scores, and that translates into demonstrated academic success."
Nishino said the district has been addressing several issues to improve test scores throughout the year, and he has several reasons to believe scores will improve this year.
"Let's remember that the district is committed to accelerating all students while closing the achievement gap," Nishino said. "And while we have a ways to go, we are taking actions, based upon thoughtful and careful research and deliberation, which will move us forward to achieving that goal."
One bright spot in the report is that the Charter School of Morgan Hill ranked in the eighth decile, the highest score in the district. Also performing well was Lewis H. Britton Middle School with a five.
Last year, only two Morgan Hill schools were ranked in the lowest decile.
Four schools - Charter School of Morgan Hill, Los Paseos Elementary School, Nordstrom Elementary School and Paradise Valley Elementary School - have scores above 800.
Three of those schools - Los Paseos, Nordstrom and Paradise Valley - still had low rankings when compared to similar schools. Jackson, one of the schools scoring a one, is only six points from the 800 goal.
Natalie Everett
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett is the education and city reporter for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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