Beyond the Blackboard

Capistrano Unified School District API Score Rises 13 Points -- Updated

From the District; we'll start sorting through scores when they become public:

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO—The Capistrano Unified School District remains the state’s highest achieving large school district, Academic Performance Index (API) scores released today by the California Department of Education indicate.

The District’s API score rose to 875, a 13-point increase from 2010. Of the District’s 54 traditional schools, 24 scored better than 900, which is considered an elite score. Another 51 scored above the state goal of 800, and every school in the District scored above 775.

“I can’t describe how proud I am of our students and their teachers,” Board President Jack R. Brick said. “These results validate the intense focus on instruction the Board has demanded. Under the leadership of Superintendent Joe Farley and with the support of our entire community, Capistrano Unified continues to be a leader in preparing students for success after graduation.”

When compared to other districts in the state, CUSD fared quite well. Among large districts, those with more than 35,000 students, CUSD has the top API score. Among the largest 100 school districts in the state, there are just six that scored higher.

“These numbers prove that this is one of the top school systems in the state,” Superintendent Joe Farley said. “We cannot succeed without the fantastic support our schools and students receive from the community. While we expect great results, these numbers are truly an indication of the hard work our teachers and instructional leaders have put into the development, design, and delivery of instruction.”

Chaparral Elementary School had an API of 948, the highest score in the District. For middle schools, Ladera Ranch earned the highest score with a 935. Tesoro was the highest scoring high school with an 883. Again, all of the District’s high schools surpassed the 800 mark; and, for the first time, all of the district’s middle schools surpassed 800.

Several schools saw large increases in their scores, led by Wood Canyon Elementary School in Aliso Viejo with a 44-point gain from 2010. Wood Canyon raised its API from 802 to 846. At the middle school level, Shorecliffs Middle School in San Clemente saw its score increase by 40 points, from 817 to 857. San Juan Hills High School experienced a 25-point increase, moving its score from 810 to 835. Just three schools saw a decrease.

Statewide, 55 percent of elementary schools, 43 percent of middle schools and 28 percent of high schools met or surpassed the state API target of 800

The API is a single number, ranging from a low of 200 to a high of 1000, which reflects performance level, based on the results of statewide testing. Its purpose is to measure the academic performance and growth of schools. The API was established in 1999 by legislation that created a new academic accountability system for K-12 public education in California. The API is calculated by converting a student’s performance on statewide assessments across multiple content areas into points on the API scale. These points are then averaged across all students and all tests. The result is the API.

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Here's a link to finding the scores for your own school

Here's a list of the three cities we cover - some impressive gains in English-learning ...

Download South API Scores

Freak Accident Claims Life of CUSD PTA Volunteer

Mara Steves was killed Sunday in a freak accident -- two vehicles collided at Moulton and Crown Valley in Laguna Niguel and one of the vehicles careened into her. She is a past president at Bergeson.

She was 48.

At the time she was hit, Steves was returning a lost dog to its owner. Those who knew her told reporters that sort of helpfulness was typical of her.

Here's the Register story.

Patch.com posted this statement from Bergeson Principal Barbara Scholl:

It is with great sadness that I share this news with you.  Mara Steves passed away this afternoon in a tragic and sudden accident.  Mara was past PTA president and currently active as our favorite office substitute when Debbie or Angel had to take a day off.  Mara was taking a walk this afternoon and was doing a good deed by returning someone’s runaway dogs to their home when a car ran a red light, hit another car which hit Mara at the corner of Moulton and Nueva Vista.  Mara was bigger than life, always doing good deeds for others and serving our community.  Her energy was infectious and her love of life was beyond compare.  She has served the Bergeson community for a decade starting new programs and working tirelessly for the good of the children at our school.  Our entire Bergeson community mourns the loss of our friend, Mara, sending love and condolences to Mara’s beautiful family, especially her two children, Hannah and Jonathan and husband, John.  We will never forget Mara and the legacy that she left at Bergeson Elementary School.

This note was purposefully sent to you on Sunday since many of our children know Mara.  We wanted you to have a chance to talk with your children as a family instead of having the kids hear of the news from one of their friends tomorrow at school.  If you know the Steves family and would like to help provide meals or assistance, email Mrs. T ([email protected]) or Mrs. Gray ([email protected]) who will be organizing a website for this purpose.

Because Valentine’s Day was Mara’s favorite holiday, we will dedicate our Jump Rope for Heart tomorrow to Mara Steves which will be a wonderful way to celebrate her life.

A Loss for the CUSD Community - And Beyond

Services are scheduled Sunday for Teri Lynn O’Brien, a past president of the PTAs at Del Obispo elementary, Marco Forster middle and Dana Hills High School, who passed away on May 3.

 

She was 49 years old and died after a brief illness.

 

She is survived by her husband, Bill, described as an inseparable best friend. They built a successful business together and enjoyed Doheny State Beach, camping in the desert mountains and Maui.

 

Her daughter Kelsey just completed her first year at Azusa Pacific University, and she is also survived by her son Chris, Heather, their newborn son Jaxson, and Heather's son, Andre.

 

O’Brien also leaves behind  three brothers and their wives, Richard and Stacie, Steve and Ida, and David and Julie Mickle; her mother-in-law, Yuba; her three brothers-in-law, Jim, Kelan, and Tracy; her sister-in-law, Dow; nephews, Ryan and Graham Mickle; nieces, Cari, Shannon, and Amanda Mickle; nephews, Riley, Marty, and Kyle O'Brien

 

A memorial and celebration of Teri's life will be held at 3 p.m, Sunday, May 16, at Capistrano Valley Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Teri O'Brien Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o PTSA Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629.