The state Department of Education released Academic Performance Index results Thursday, and La Cañada Unified School District again ranked as the second-highest public school district in California, according to Lindi Dreibelbis, the district's director of assessment, research and consolidated programs.
With a score of 947 out of a possible 1000, the district only trailed San Marino Unified, according to Dreibelbis, and was second for the fifth straight year.
"We are thrilled. This was a very high performance," Dreibelbis told Patch.
When asked for the reasons behind the district's continued high performance, Dreibelbis said the efforts and credit run across the board.
"It's a combined effort. We have committed teachers, involved parents. There are many, many factors," Dreibelbis said.
Dreibelbis said the district's score was five points below the 2012 score, with some individual schools in the district scoring lower this year, but that drops were common around the state. Among the eight highest performing districts, each saw a decline this year of one to eight points, Dreibelbis said.
Here's how local public schools in LCF scored compared to 2012:, according to the Dept. of Education's website:
- LA Canada High School dropped nine points to 937.
- La Canada Elementary dropped five points to 970.
- Paradise Canyon Elementary dropped two points to 957.
- Palm Crest Elementary gained seven points to 967.
Statewide, the number of California schools meeting the state target for student performance on standardized tests dropped by 2 percent.
In 2013, 51 percent of the state’s schools earned an Academic Performance Index score of 800 or above, compared to 53 percent the previous year.
Based on 2013 test scores, 56 percent of elementary schools, 50 percent of middle schools, and 31 percent of high schools are now at or above the 800 mark.
In the last decade, the number of schools meeting the target of an 800 API has increased by 30 percent.
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