Academic Performance Index (API) Going Up for Palisades' Schools

"Four of the five public schools in Pacific Palisades improved their Academic Performance Index (API) scores, and Marquez Charter Elementary School made the most significant gains, according to results released on Monday by the California Department of Education.

For the second year in a row, Marquez Elementary led the way among Palisades schools. In 2009, Marquez increased its score by 31 points to 906, and this year, the school improved its mark by 14 points to 920.

API is a state standard that measures every public school's progress from year to year, and it is based on test results from the Standardized Testing and Reporting program (STAR) and the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE).

Students in second through 11th grade take a series of tests in math, English, history and science as part of the STAR program. The CAHSEE is first administered in the 10th grade, and students who do not pass can retake the test in the 11th and 12th grades. API scores range from 200 to 1,000, with the goal that all schools statewide reach 800.

'I'm thrilled,' Principal Phillip Hollis told the Palisadian-Post. 'It shows the hard work we are doing despite the budget cuts.'

After the Los Angeles Unified School District cut the school's funding for general and special education, Marquez parents raised enough money to pay for two teachers, which allowed the school to keep class sizes averaging 25 students.

Hollis also credited his teachers, saying they do an excellent job of providing struggling students with additional help. He pointed to the success of the CATCH (Caring Adults Teaching Children How) program, where adult volunteers from the Palisades community mentor at-risk third, fourth and fifth graders in reading or math. About 35 students and 25 volunteers participated in the program.

This school year, the CATCH program will be expanded to include the second grade, and teachers will continue to focus on technology by having their students use laptops and iPods in the classroom. Hollis hopes these efforts will improve the school's API score even more. "

For a detailed look at the four schools making improvements, see The Palisadian-Post's original article, "Four Palisades Schools Raise API Scores" by Danielle Gillespie, 9/16/2010