Oak Park wins battle of the API scores

With a 25-point increase over last year—all the way up to 891—Oak Park Unified School District reported the highest combined API score in Ventura County, according to California Department of Education figures released last week.

Among the highlights: Medea Creek had the top middle school score in the county with an 878, 26 higher than last year; Oak Park High jumped 40 points from the previous year to 878, the highest high school score in the Conejo Valley; Red Oak Elementary rose 22 points to 905; and Oak Hills Elementary increased by seven points to 934.

Brookside Elementary dropped six points to 915, but even that was a good showing, Oak Park Schools Superintendent Tony Knight said.

"When you're already in that kind of range you're going to have ups and downs," Knight said. "It's not an indicator of student achievement. We know students at Brookside are achieving really well."

Knight said several factors contributed to the high Oak Park scores, including a school district writing workshop and a strong focus on literacy through support and intervention programs.

The school district also realigned its math programs to meet state standards and adopted a new math program at the middle and high school levels. The schools also fostered a strong partnership between administrators, teachers, students and parents.

"All of these things are paying dividends beautifully," Knight said. "We don't rely only on these test scores. They're only a snapshot."

If the students at Red Oak Elementary are seen struggling, they're identified quickly and given extra help, Principal Jon Duim said. An intensive individualized reading program brings all students up to grade level, and a fifth-grade science bee was added last year to help strengthen science scores.

"The goal of the science bee was not to eliminate everyone and crown one winner, but to include as many 'finalists' as possible at the end of the activity and for everyone to learn," Duim said.

When students' math grades dipped in 2007, Medea Creek reevaluated its curriculum and adopted new textbooks, Principal Brad Benioff said.

Also proving effective at the middle school was a reading and writing intervention plan for struggling students. Some of the instruction was tailored to meet student knowledge and skill level. There were "hands-on, real life" learning experiences and the use of interactive technology. "Flexible classrooms" were created, and a "team" teaching concept was implemented.

"We do not focus on standardized test scores as the end goal but look for continuous improvement in all areas," Benioff said. "We will analyze this year what was effective and where we need to improve. We will continue to teach the whole student, and we believe the scores will follow."