2011 API scores are out

[bearishgurl]

[quote=temeculaguy]…I did notice that the elem my kids went to was in the 900’s, the middle school in the high 8’s and the high school, mid 8’s. I ran some of the SD coveted districts, similar decline as the kids get older. I guess that is just further evidence that we get dumber as we age, I’m sure the trend continues after school, which explains a lot about my current mental state.[/quote]

TG, it is true the (Math, English and History – in HS) teachers teach and drill to these tests. The 10th graders’ scores virtually carry the school. The CACI’s in HS are infinitely harder than the “STAR” tests in Middle school and Elem school and require critical thinking skills. I don’t place too much importance on scores below the HS level. These schools are simply preparing students for the “real thing,” that is, 10 and 11th grade, where their GPA’s are computed for college admission purposes. Although my kids DID attend an elem school scoring in the 9’s (not sure API score was actually computed during the ENTIRE era of their attendances), the reality is that HS GPA (mainly 10th/11th grade) is the only thing that “counts” in life.

Therefore, if a family purchases into a particular elem school attendance area (with its possible incipient high HOA/MR) solely for an elem school API score, your kid will be out of the school in seven years and the colleges they apply to will never see their GPA’s for Grades K-9. IMO, therefore, a 900+ elem school API score is simply “fluff,” bells and whistles and icing on the cake (in comparison to an 800+ API elem school). In the context of a “public” school, what is a 900+ scoring elem school really WORTH to a family …. monetarily??

It is far easier for elem age students (4th graders??) to score higher on these tests used to compute their schools API than it is for students at the HS level. They have less homework, less competing interests and the material they are drilled on for these tests is much easier to learn.

When you’re a lowly 7th grader beginning middle school, you have to start all over again.

In addition, I agree with other posters who stated Asian (Chinese?) “Tiger” parents commonly place their children (even when very young) in private tutoring and scholastic enrichment programs (which are cost-prohibitive to many, many parents). As stated before in this thread, if you look at the ethnic breakdowns of the scores within a school, a school’s API score is propped up by the “Asian” (non-Filipino) group.

Question: If your child is any other ethnicity than “Asian,” how do most of these “top-scoring schools” actually serve your child best? And why are the Hispanic scores so low in these schools? Could it be that there are not enough Hispanic and/or bilingual teachers who are sensitive to this culture? In some HS’s scoring overall below 800, the Hispanic group does much better. This can only be explained by these schools having many bilingual teachers who can identify with this culture and bring their best work out. In SUHSD (“Sweetwater”), we are very fortunate to have many longtime teachers who grew up in the area and came back to work here after college to give back to their own communities.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=temeculaguy]…I did notice that the elem my kids went to was in the 900’s, the middle school in the high 8’s and the high school, mid 8’s. I ran some of the SD coveted districts, similar decline as the kids get older. I guess that is just further evidence that we get dumber as we age, I’m sure the trend continues after school, which explains a lot about my current mental state.[/quote]

TG, it is true the (Math, English and History – in HS) teachers teach and drill to these tests. The 10th graders’ scores virtually carry the school. The CACI’s in HS are infinitely harder than the “STAR” tests in Middle school and Elem school and require critical thinking skills. I don’t place too much importance on scores below the HS level. These schools are simply preparing students for the “real thing,” that is, 10 and 11th grade, where their GPA’s are computed for college admission purposes. Although my kids DID attend an elem school scoring in the 9’s (not sure API score was actually computed during the ENTIRE era of their attendances), the reality is that HS GPA (mainly 10th/11th grade) is the only thing that “counts” in life.

Therefore, if a family purchases into a particular elem school attendance area (with its possible incipient high HOA/MR) solely for an elem school API score, your kid will be out of the school in seven years and the colleges they apply to will never see their GPA’s for Grades K-9. IMO, therefore, a 900+ elem school API score is simply “fluff,” bells and whistles and icing on the cake (in comparison to an 800+ API elem school). In the context of a “public” school, what is a 900+ scoring elem school really WORTH to a family …. monetarily??

It is far easier for elem age students (4th graders??) to score higher on these tests used to compute their schools API than it is for students at the HS level. They have less homework, less competing interests and the material they are drilled on for these tests is much easier to learn.

When you’re a lowly 7th grader beginning middle school, you have to start all over again.

In addition, I agree with other posters who stated Asian (Chinese?) “Tiger” parents commonly place their children (even when very young) in private tutoring and scholastic enrichment programs (which are cost-prohibitive to many, many parents). As stated before in this thread, if you look at the ethnic breakdowns of the scores within a school, a school’s API score is propped up by the “Asian” (non-Filipino) group.

Question: If your child is any other ethnicity than “Asian,” how do most of these “top-scoring schools” actually serve your child best? And why are the Hispanic scores so low in these schools? Could it be that there are not enough Hispanic and/or bilingual teachers who are sensitive to this culture? In some HS’s scoring overall below 800, the Hispanic group does much better. This can only be explained by these schools having many bilingual teachers who can identify with this culture and bring their best work out. In SUHSD (“Sweetwater”), we are very fortunate to have many longtime teachers who grew up in the area and came back to work here after college to give back to their own communities.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=temeculaguy]…I did notice that the elem my kids went to was in the 900’s, the middle school in the high 8’s and the high school, mid 8’s. I ran some of the SD coveted districts, similar decline as the kids get older. I guess that is just further evidence that we get dumber as we age, I’m sure the trend continues after school, which explains a lot about my current mental state.[/quote]

TG, it is true the (Math, English and History – in HS) teachers teach and drill to these tests. The 10th graders’ scores virtually carry the school. The CACI’s in HS are infinitely harder than the “STAR” tests in Middle school and Elem school and require critical thinking skills. I don’t place too much importance on scores below the HS level. These schools are simply preparing students for the “real thing,” that is, 10 and 11th grade, where their GPA’s are computed for college admission purposes. Although my kids DID attend an elem school scoring in the 9’s (not sure API score was actually computed during the ENTIRE era of their attendances), the reality is that HS GPA (mainly 10th/11th grade) is the only thing that “counts” in life.

Therefore, if a family purchases into a particular elem school attendance area (with its possible incipient high HOA/MR) solely for an elem school API score, your kid will be out of the school in seven years and the colleges they apply to will never see their GPA’s for Grades K-9. IMO, therefore, a 900+ elem school API score is simply “fluff,” bells and whistles and icing on the cake (in comparison to an 800+ API elem school). In the context of a “public” school, what is a 900+ scoring elem school really WORTH to a family …. monetarily??

It is far easier for elem age students (4th graders??) to score higher on these tests used to compute their schools API than it is for students at the HS level. They have less homework, less competing interests and the material they are drilled on for these tests is much easier to learn.

When you’re a lowly 7th grader beginning middle school, you have to start all over again.

In addition, I agree with other posters who stated Asian (Chinese?) “Tiger” parents commonly place their children (even when very young) in private tutoring and scholastic enrichment programs (which are cost-prohibitive to many, many parents). As stated before in this thread, if you look at the ethnic breakdowns of the scores within a school, a school’s API score is propped up by the “Asian” (non-Filipino) group.

Question: If your child is any other ethnicity than “Asian,” how do most of these “top-scoring schools” actually serve your child best? And why are the Hispanic scores so low in these schools? Could it be that there are not enough Hispanic and/or bilingual teachers who are sensitive to this culture? In some HS’s scoring overall below 800, the Hispanic group does much better. This can only be explained by these schools having many bilingual teachers who can identify with this culture and bring their best work out. In SUHSD (“Sweetwater”), we are very fortunate to have many longtime teachers who grew up in the area and came back to work here after college to give back to their own communities.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=temeculaguy]…I did notice that the elem my kids went to was in the 900’s, the middle school in the high 8’s and the high school, mid 8’s. I ran some of the SD coveted districts, similar decline as the kids get older. I guess that is just further evidence that we get dumber as we age, I’m sure the trend continues after school, which explains a lot about my current mental state.[/quote]

TG, it is true the (Math, English and History – in HS) teachers teach and drill to these tests. The 10th graders’ scores virtually carry the school. The CACI’s in HS are infinitely harder than the “STAR” tests in Middle school and Elem school and require critical thinking skills. I don’t place too much importance on scores below the HS level. These schools are simply preparing students for the “real thing,” that is, 10 and 11th grade, where their GPA’s are computed for college admission purposes. Although my kids DID attend an elem school scoring in the 9’s (not sure API score was actually computed during the ENTIRE era of their attendances), the reality is that HS GPA (mainly 10th/11th grade) is the only thing that “counts” in life.

Therefore, if a family purchases into a particular elem school attendance area (with its possible incipient high HOA/MR) solely for an elem school API score, your kid will be out of the school in seven years and the colleges they apply to will never see their GPA’s for Grades K-9. IMO, therefore, a 900+ elem school API score is simply “fluff,” bells and whistles and icing on the cake (in comparison to an 800+ API elem school). In the context of a “public” school, what is a 900+ scoring elem school really WORTH to a family …. monetarily??

It is far easier for elem age students (4th graders??) to score higher on these tests used to compute their schools API than it is for students at the HS level. They have less homework, less competing interests and the material they are drilled on for these tests is much easier to learn.

When you’re a lowly 7th grader beginning middle school, you have to start all over again.

In addition, I agree with other posters who stated Asian (Chinese?) “Tiger” parents commonly place their children (even when very young) in private tutoring and scholastic enrichment programs (which are cost-prohibitive to many, many parents). As stated before in this thread, if you look at the ethnic breakdowns of the scores within a school, a school’s API score is propped up by the “Asian” (non-Filipino) group.

Question: If your child is any other ethnicity than “Asian,” how do most of these “top-scoring schools” actually serve your child best? And why are the Hispanic scores so low in these schools? Could it be that there are not enough Hispanic and/or bilingual teachers who are sensitive to this culture? In some HS’s scoring overall below 800, the Hispanic group does much better. This can only be explained by these schools having many bilingual teachers who can identify with this culture and bring their best work out. In SUHSD (“Sweetwater”), we are very fortunate to have many longtime teachers who grew up in the area and came back to work here after college to give back to their own communities.

[Anonymous]

Have to plug my daughter’s school, San Diego High’s School of International Studies, 873, as one of top schools in county. Great international baccalaureate program too.

[Anonymous]

Have to plug my daughter’s school, San Diego High’s School of International Studies, 873, as one of top schools in county. Great international baccalaureate program too.

[Anonymous]

Have to plug my daughter’s school, San Diego High’s School of International Studies, 873, as one of top schools in county. Great international baccalaureate program too.

[UCGal]

[quote=bearishgurl]Overall (Top 13 in County):

Scripps Ranch – SD Unified 883
Torrey Pines – San Dieguito 881
Coronado – Coronado Unified 872
Del Norte – Poway Unified 864
Westview – Poway Unified 860
San Marcos – San Marcos Un 859
San Dieguito – San Dieguito 854 tie
Poway – Poway Unified 854 tie
Bonita Vista – Sweetwater Un 851
La Jolla – SD Unified 849
Mira Mesa – SD Unified 846
Olympian – Sweetwater Union 845
Eastlake – Sweetwater Union 833

I didn’t look them all up so let me know if I missed anything here.[/quote]

Did you exclude charter schools (which are still public.)?

Some SD Unified Charter schools scored very well:
Preuss: 899
San Diego International Studies: 873
Kearny International Business: 860

I know Preuss limits who can attend based on meeting demographic statistical needs. But I’m pretty sure that any student can apply to go to San Diego HS or Kearny.

I see Beatrix already mentioned her daughter’s school.

[UCGal]

[quote=bearishgurl]Overall (Top 13 in County):

Scripps Ranch – SD Unified 883
Torrey Pines – San Dieguito 881
Coronado – Coronado Unified 872
Del Norte – Poway Unified 864
Westview – Poway Unified 860
San Marcos – San Marcos Un 859
San Dieguito – San Dieguito 854 tie
Poway – Poway Unified 854 tie
Bonita Vista – Sweetwater Un 851
La Jolla – SD Unified 849
Mira Mesa – SD Unified 846
Olympian – Sweetwater Union 845
Eastlake – Sweetwater Union 833

I didn’t look them all up so let me know if I missed anything here.[/quote]

Did you exclude charter schools (which are still public.)?

Some SD Unified Charter schools scored very well:
Preuss: 899
San Diego International Studies: 873
Kearny International Business: 860

I know Preuss limits who can attend based on meeting demographic statistical needs. But I’m pretty sure that any student can apply to go to San Diego HS or Kearny.

I see Beatrix already mentioned her daughter’s school.

[UCGal]

[quote=bearishgurl]Overall (Top 13 in County):

Scripps Ranch – SD Unified 883
Torrey Pines – San Dieguito 881
Coronado – Coronado Unified 872
Del Norte – Poway Unified 864
Westview – Poway Unified 860
San Marcos – San Marcos Un 859
San Dieguito – San Dieguito 854 tie
Poway – Poway Unified 854 tie
Bonita Vista – Sweetwater Un 851
La Jolla – SD Unified 849
Mira Mesa – SD Unified 846
Olympian – Sweetwater Union 845
Eastlake – Sweetwater Union 833

I didn’t look them all up so let me know if I missed anything here.[/quote]

Did you exclude charter schools (which are still public.)?

Some SD Unified Charter schools scored very well:
Preuss: 899
San Diego International Studies: 873
Kearny International Business: 860

I know Preuss limits who can attend based on meeting demographic statistical needs. But I’m pretty sure that any student can apply to go to San Diego HS or Kearny.

I see Beatrix already mentioned her daughter’s school.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=beatrix]Have to plug my daughter’s school, San Diego High’s School of International Studies, 873, as one of top schools in county. Great international baccalaureate program too.[/quote]

beatrix and UCGal, I agree and have been touting this program on this forum. But isn’t this school just ONE portion of SDHS overall? My understanding is that this particular IB program within SDHS requires that the student and parent sign contracts to join it and ensure their student keeps up with the rigorous work. If the student is unable to, he/she is dropped from the program. How many students of SDHS are actually enrolled in their School of International Studies? And how many students are enrolled in ALL the schools of SDHS collectively??

Perhaps SDHS does not have a collective API score this year because it has divided up into these smaller “niche” schools.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=beatrix]Have to plug my daughter’s school, San Diego High’s School of International Studies, 873, as one of top schools in county. Great international baccalaureate program too.[/quote]

beatrix and UCGal, I agree and have been touting this program on this forum. But isn’t this school just ONE portion of SDHS overall? My understanding is that this particular IB program within SDHS requires that the student and parent sign contracts to join it and ensure their student keeps up with the rigorous work. If the student is unable to, he/she is dropped from the program. How many students of SDHS are actually enrolled in their School of International Studies? And how many students are enrolled in ALL the schools of SDHS collectively??

Perhaps SDHS does not have a collective API score this year because it has divided up into these smaller “niche” schools.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=beatrix]Have to plug my daughter’s school, San Diego High’s School of International Studies, 873, as one of top schools in county. Great international baccalaureate program too.[/quote]

beatrix and UCGal, I agree and have been touting this program on this forum. But isn’t this school just ONE portion of SDHS overall? My understanding is that this particular IB program within SDHS requires that the student and parent sign contracts to join it and ensure their student keeps up with the rigorous work. If the student is unable to, he/she is dropped from the program. How many students of SDHS are actually enrolled in their School of International Studies? And how many students are enrolled in ALL the schools of SDHS collectively??

Perhaps SDHS does not have a collective API score this year because it has divided up into these smaller “niche” schools.

[sdrealtor]

BG
Do you really beleive that all kids arrive at 10th grade or even 7th grade evenly prepared? Only an idiot would think the elementary scores are used for college admissions and we are not idiots here. What they are is an indicator of the quality of students your child will be surrounded by. The competitive landscape so to speak. A student surrounded by top performers is more likely to be motivated and the teachers are less likely to have to dumb down the curriculumn to the lower performers. That is the biggest reason for searching out top performing schools. If you want to play in the big leagues of life you need to be prepared to compete at every level.

[sdrealtor]

BG
Do you really beleive that all kids arrive at 10th grade or even 7th grade evenly prepared? Only an idiot would think the elementary scores are used for college admissions and we are not idiots here. What they are is an indicator of the quality of students your child will be surrounded by. The competitive landscape so to speak. A student surrounded by top performers is more likely to be motivated and the teachers are less likely to have to dumb down the curriculumn to the lower performers. That is the biggest reason for searching out top performing schools. If you want to play in the big leagues of life you need to be prepared to compete at every level.

[Author]

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