Unacceptable School District!

[ProfessorM]

16 Valley schools rank high
www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205~12220~2764629,00.html

The three lowest-ranking schools are Gladstone Street Elementary in Azusa, Mountain View High School in El Monte and Parkview Elementary in El Monte.

Schools in Azusa Unified School District went up and down in their rankings, and most did not score above a 5 in statewide or similar schools ranking.
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WHAT CAN BE DONE?

1. What can we do as residents to push for major improvements in the Azusa schools?

2. What can be done to help the Spanish only speaking parents in Azusa understand the importance of learning English: and making sure that parents and children speak and write it properly? By not learning English, they are harming their children’s future. The school district seems to wear it proudly on their collar as an excuse for low school ratings. This excuse needs to be squashed.

3. What can be done to make sure that the new school that will be built in Montarra will be rated at the highest end of the best schools in the country?

4. What can be done to encourage the children to prepare for college as early as possible?

5. What can be done to make sure that the quality of education that the children are receiving is challenging for each student and far exceeds the basic California standards?

[Lester]

There is another story in the Tribune regarding the test scores of the school districts:

www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205%257E12220%257E2764840,00.html


East San Gabriel Valley Schools
A look at the 2004 Academic Performance Index

Column 1 - next to each school is the API score on a scale of 200-1,000 based on the Standardized Testing and Reporting & CA High School Exit Exam examinations.

Column 2 - comparison of scores: 10 is the best, 1 is the worst.

Column 3 - Comparison with similar demographics: 10 is the best, 1 is the worst.

Column 4 - Growth Target = current API score plus 5%of the difference between its score and the state's interim target of an API of 800 for all schools. A' means the school scored above 800 in 2004.

media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper205/chart1.jpg
media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper205/chart2.jpg
media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper205/chart3.jpg
media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper205/chart4.jpg
media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper205/chart5.jpg
media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper205/chart6.jpg

It may be easier to view these charts by printing them out.

[LockedOut]

Wow,
That's really too bad. I think it's kind of a catch 22. The kids who can help to raise these scores go to private schools or a different district and therefore those kid's scores do not help the picture. And parents who would like to use the schools here look at the scores and say"no way" so they do everything in their power to send their kids to private or outside the district. Is there anyone here in Mountain Cove who sends their kids to this school district?
Maybe Montarra has a better chance since they will have their own school. Maybe we should see if some of the candidates who did not make it into the city council would be interested in gettting on the school board. I know Angel Carrillo is a teacher in another district and he would be a great addition to our school board.

[sage]

I totally agree. Those score are unaccepable. I don't want to hear about excuses. I want results. I heard that the Walnut schools were bad at one time....something like 30 years ago...but now they continuously rated as one of the top school districts. Does anyone know how they were able to do this?

[bonsei]

My sister is a middle school teacher in the Walnut school district and I've had the pleasure of assisting her in some of her school activities.

I have to say that parent participation is absolutely essential to a successful program. These mostly asian parents are waaaaayyyyyy involved. Maybe too involved if that could even be possible. These kids have their after school activities completely mapped out. With tutors and music instructors at their disposal.

It just felt that "overachievement" was more the problem than attendance or english.

Wouldn't that be cool if that was the topic of discussion 3-5 years from now when my kids are attending the Montarra Elementary school - "Is it okay for your kids to overachieve? Lessons in a balanced lifestyle"

MC Dad