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LV schools test scores rank high, but slip in comparison to similar schools The Las Virgenes Unified School District once again ranked as one of the highest achieving districts in California, but half of the district's 14 schools came in below average when measured against similar schools, according to a report released by the California Department of Education last week. Each school is rated on a pair of 10-point scales, one that reflects the school's overall level of achievement and the other showing how schools compare to other schools in the state with similar populations. The May 21 report shows all 14 schools in the district exceeded the 800point benchmark on standardized testing, but seven schools were ranked below average when compared to similar schools. Yerba Buena Elementary in Agoura Hills was the only school in the district to earn a high score of 10 in both categories, while Round Meadow Elementary in Hidden Hills was the only school to rank "1" in the similar-schools category. The score of "1" is the lowest on the scale. Assistant Superintendent Mary Schillinger said there was a glitch in the district's reporting system, causing the school to be compared incorrectly. The wrong number of special education students at Round Meadow was transmitted to the state, which resulted in the similarschool ranking being wrongfully skewed downward, she said. "Similar-schools (ranking) is a very convoluted reporting system," Schillinger said. The district uses two databases to report information to the state: one for information on special education students and the other for the rest of the school population, she said. "The two systems weren't communicating very well with each other," Schillinger said. The number of students with disabilities was underreported at 17 rather than 66, which caused the low comparative ranking, she said. The reporting system has been fixed, and a new similar-school rank will be reflected in the next reporting system in late August. The new information sent to the state will "make a big difference" for Round Meadow, Schillinger said. Schillinger said this year was the first time the state required some students with disabilities to take the California Modified Assessment test. Students with more severe disabilities take the California Alternative Performance Assessment test, designed for children who are working on a "functional" curriculum and not a regular diploma. The specific standardized test that is administered to special education students depends on the child's individualized education plan, Schillinger said. "In my first year hear, I've been extremely pleased with the community and staff pride in the school," Round Meadow Principal Tom Spence said. "We're looking at examining intervention programs and ways to improve how we're meeting the needs of the kids. It's been a very positive year, and there has been a lot of good feedback from community and teachers, but like any good school there are always areas that can be improved upon. We're looking forward to doing that and making next year even better than this year." On the other end of the spectrum is Yerba Buena, the only school to earn 10 in both categories. Principal Brent Noyes was thrilled with the results. "There is 100 percent commitment to excellence at the school and the district," Noyes said. "We try to keep everything student-focused and really take a look at how kids learn the best, so we do a lot of monitoring." Noyes gave credit to parents for helping their children achieve and to the kids themselves. "At spirit rallies we talk to kids about doing their best and (they have the opportunity) to show how smart they really are." The API is based on a scale from 200 to 1,000 and is calculated by how well students perform on California standards testing in English/ language arts, mathematics, history/ social sciences and science. The STAR (Standardized Testing And Reporting) exams are administered each year to all students in the state. All Las Virgenes schools scored above the state's benchmark of 800, and met their annual yearly progress targets. Overall, the district scored 874, two points lower than last year. School scores
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