Dublin Unified School District 2013 API Improves to 904

The Dublin Unified School District’s overall API in 2013 rose slightly to 904, with Kolb Elementary School leading the way with a gain of 19 points to 939. Green Elementary School continues to lead the District with an API of 963, while Frederiksen Elementary School (API 904) and Wells Middle School (API 874) built on significant gains made last year.  Across the District, every school reported an API score above 860 with 7 of 9 schools reporting an API above 900.

“Dublin Schools continue to make progress with standardized tests,” Superintendent Stephen Hanke said. “The district’s efforts to infuse best practices at all of our schools clearly have been effective. While we are very pleased with these results, we also recognize that stubborn achievement gaps continue to exist. We will be making a major effort this year with specific interventions at all of our schools to close those gaps. We will also have a laser-like focus on continued preparation for implementation of common core standards and smarter balanced assessments in 2014.”

Building upon more than a decade of improvement and further cementing Dublin’s status as one of the state’s most successful school districts, Dublin Unified posted its highest-ever score in the Academic Performance Index (API), released by the State Department of Education today.

The District achieved a 904 on the API, a score based on the standardized testing that took place across the state last spring. The district-wide cumulative score represents the 11th straight year of growth. Dublin scores have increased every year since 2003, and the district has experienced an improvement of 123 points since 2002.

District-wide, more than 80 percent of students tested proficient or advanced in English Language Arts and Math. As districts across the state struggled this year to match scores reported in 2012, Dublin continues on an overall path of improvement, despite modest setbacks for sub-group populations.

A detailed breakdown of all Dublin Unified School District API results is available here.

Note that Valley High School (API 561) is considered a small school by the California Department of Education (less than 99 students), and as a result API results are not considered as reliable.

The Dublin Unified School District’s API results broken down by subgroup are as follows:

DUSD Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hanke sent the following letter to Dublin parents:

Dear Parents and Guardians:

2013 DUSD Academic Performance Index (API) and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Standardized Test Results.  This week, the California Department of Education will be releasing annual results of standardized tests.  These will be in the form of Academic Performance Index (API) and the federal No Child Left Behind measurement of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).  We are pleased to provide you with an update of how well the district and our schools are doing on these two important measurements of student success.

The big picture clearly shows that Dublin schools continue to make progress in both API and AYP.  The current District API of 904, reflects a modest 3 point gain over the 2012 year results and represents the 11^th year of growth.   This year, six of ten schools and the district made positive gains in Growth API. In addition, the district AYP shows that more than eighty percent (80%) of our students are proficient or advanced in English Language Arts and math.

The federal government program, No Child Left Behind, measures Adequate Yearly Progress in three areas, proficiency targets in English Language Arts and math, Academic Performance Index, and graduation rate.  The District met the API target, but did not meet the required targets in proficiency rate in ELA and math (89%) and graduation rate (90% including all sub groups).

A closer look at both the API and AYP results show that, unfortunately, a stubborn achievement gap remains for certain sub group populations of our students including students of color, English Learners, economically disadvantaged students and those with special needs.  These students are significantly behind their Asian and white fellow students in all indicators of success.  A major focus for the district this year will be concentrated intervention work to assist these students and to close that gap.

You can review the District test scores by clicking on the following link:  http://www.cde.ca.gov/getschoolreport/ .

The District will be holding an annual “Data Walk”, where students test scores in standardized tests along with other college readiness indicators including SAT, ACT, Early Assessment Program (EAP), and Advanced Placement results will be discussed with the Board of Trustees.  You are invited to attend this important meeting.  It is scheduled for September 24, 2013 beginning at 6:30pm in the Board Room.

We look forward to continued success and welcome your input as we work to achieve the mission of seeing every Dublin student 21^st century successful, college and career ready.

Sincerely,

Stephen Hanke, Ed.D.
Superintendent