Kern schools still behind, but better
BY LISA SCHENCKER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: lschencker@bakersfield.com |
Tuesday, Mar 21 2006 10:45 PM

Last Updated: Tuesday, Mar 21 2006 10:49 PM

None of Kern County's schools ranks among the top in the state, according to statewide rankings released Tuesday.
Links:

* Latest test scores
* How to read the API chart

Not one school out of about 250 in the county ranks in the top 10 percent of schools statewide when it comes to standardized testing. About one-fifth of county schools, however, rank in the bottom 10th.

Ideally, at least 10 percent of county schools would rank in the top 10 percent of schools statewide.

The rankings were part of an annual report that shows how schools are doing on standardized tests and how they compare to others across California. Overall, the state is improving. Kern County, for the most part, did better on state tests last school year than in the past but not good enough to catch up with other parts of the state.

In fact, the number of county schools ranked in the bottom 10th of the state changed little between last school year and the year before even though API bases -- numbers that reflect how schools did on standardized tests -- mostly went up.

The reason is because as Kern County's API bases went up, so did the bases of schools across the state. That's why many rankings stayed the same even as test scores improved.

Pat Alexander, administrator for the Division of Instructional Services with the county superintendent's office, said it's hard to move up in the rankings when you start at the bottom and everyone else is moving up too. She said she remains optimistic that Kern County will eventually see schools reach that top 10 percent despite challenges that include a large number of English learners and high poverty levels.

"If it can be attained there isn't any reason why schools in Kern County can't attain it," Alexander said.

She said despite county schools' rankings, schools have made tremendous progress in the past five years. In 2000, 16 percent of the county's schools fell into the 400 range for API bases. Now, except for alternative and some small schools, none do. Schools are supposed to aim for API bases of 800 out of 1,000.

Bakersfield City School District Director of Research and Evaluation Marvin Jones said he's proud of what the elementary school district has accomplished even though 31 of the district's 40 schools ranked in the bottom third of the state.

Bakersfield City School District's API bases, however, went up as a whole from the previous school year.

"I think knowing where we started five years ago and seeing where we are now on the API has to be good news," Jones said. He said the district's demographics have much to do with its schools' low rankings.

Like the county, the district has a large number of English learners and students living in poverty, he said.

Such demographics make it difficult for the district to compete against others that draw from more affluent areas such as the Fruitvale or Norris elementary school districts in northwest Bakersfield.

All of Fruitvale's schools ranked in the top 30 percent of schools statewide. All the Norris schools ranked in the top 20 percent.

Kern High School District Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Joe Thompson said demographics are also largely behind KHSD's academic performance. Ten of KHSD's 15 comprehensive high schools ranked in the bottom third of schools statewide even though the district's API base on the whole went up.

"When you have students who come from families where both parents have college educations it turns out those students usually do well," Thompson said. Many of the district's students do not have that advantage, he said.

Of KHSD schools, Stockdale High School did the best, ranking in the top 30 percent of schools statewide.

Arvin, Foothill and Golden Valley high schools all scored in the bottom 10th.

Though most schools will not face state sanctions for low rankings or low API bases, the numbers can affect students applying to college.

University of California spokesman Ricardo Vazquez said UC schools do sometimes take API ranks and scores into account when admitting students.

"We take a look at how students took advantage of educational opportunities available to him or her in high school," Vazquez said. API can be one of many factors colleges look at to understand what kind of a school a student comes from in an effort to level the playing field, he said.

Though Kern County's rankings and API bases were mixed, the state as a whole is progressing quickly, said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

"These results show that California students are making solid academic gains," O'Connell said. "By any measurement California is clearly moving in the right direction."