Standardized public school test scores recently released by the state confirm Oak Park Unified as the highest performing school district in Ventura County—and among the top districts in California.

Oak Park is the only district in the county where all five schools scored the highest rank of 10 in the statewide Academic Performance Index (API). And Oak Park High School is the only high school in Ventura County to earn both a 10 for the state rank and a 10 for the similar schools ranking. Brookside Elementary School earned the same 10/10 distinction. The rest oftheschoolsearneda9insimilar school ranks. (Continuation schools, home school programs and other small programs are not evaluated in the same way.)

The only other school in Ventura County to earn a double-10 is Vista Elementary in Simi Valley.

Statewide ranks are based on STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) test scores. As a whole, Oak Park earned 916. Oak Park is the only district in Ventura County to hit 900. The state benchmark for STAR is 800.

To determinte the similar schools ranking, demographic characteristics for elementary, middle and high schools are compared to 100 other campuses of equal size in 10 categories, including pupil mobility, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Other factors include fully credentialed teachers, teachers who hold emergency credentials, English learners, gifted and talented students, students with disabilities, migrant education students and students who have been reclassified as being fluent or proficient in English.

Special education schools, some continuation schools, and small schools with less than 100 students are not ranked against similar schools, Oak Park superintendent Tony Knight said.

“I think that our STAR testing results are consistent with our students showing higher and higher levels of achievement through a variety of indicators,” Knight said.

The superintendent pointed out that 94 percent of firstthrough third-grade students are reading at or above their grade level. This includes students with special needs.

At Oak Park High, the data show that students tend to raise their SAT scores as they take more advanced placement courses and AP exams.

“This year we have had more seniors admitted to highly selective colleges and universities than ever before,” Knight said. “One reason is that the district focus has been consistent in investing in our teachers. . . . Ensuring that teachers are well trained and have opportunities to grow is important in Oak Park. We have not cut staff development days and continue to offer high quality professional development for our teachers.”

Knight credited administrators, counselors and parents for the district’s high achievement. He also said new high- tech classrooms have had a positive impact on how students learn.

API Scores for Oak Park Unified School District