SBCSS News and Press Releases

County Schools Continue To Show Improvement On Median API Base Scores

2010-05-13

SAN BERNARDINO - High schools in San Bernardino County improved by 16.5 points in their median Academic Performance Index (API) Base, which were the highest gains made in the past five years of testing for the group, according to data released today by the California Department of Education.

In addition, median API Base scores countywide advanced for the 11th consecutive year. The median API base of 767 for 2009 was 16 points higher than the previous year.

"These increases in median API Base scores are encouraging," County Superintendent Gary Thomas said. "I applaud the efforts, especially of our students and teachers, for the daily commitment they make to academic achievement."

Compared to state median scores, county schools still trail API Bases at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Elementary schools have improved their API Base median scores from 629 points in 1999 to 779 in 2009, an increase of 150 points.

At the high school level, the county API Base rose to 707.5. In the past 10 years, the county API Base has grown 155.5 points from 552 in 1999.

At the middle school level, county API Base median scores edged up a half-point from 2008.

The API Base sets each school's baseline scores for academic performance and annual growth targets. Additionally, the scores establish similar school rankings, with schools ranked by size and student population served. Schools are ranked academically on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest) and compared to other schools statewide (statewide rankings) and to schools with similar characteristics (similar schools rankings). Small schools, those with student populations of less than 100 students, and alternative schools did not figure in the API Base results.

Results of the 2009 API Base are available at the California Department of Education's Web site, www.cde.ca.gov.