Valley Schools API Test Results Released | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Fresno, CA The sixth grade teacher said even students with personal obstacles persevered at Reagan Elementary. Nearly half qualify for free lunch and many are Hispanic or Hmong, who historically haven't scored as well as their white peers. Davis said, "I think what we're doing differently is we really target teach. We do small groups a lot throughout our school."

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As a whole Clovis Unified rose its API scores 16 points. Dr. Michelle Steagall is Clovis Unified's Chief Curriculum Officer. She said, "Closing the achievement gap is probably the most difficult." Steagall credits the district's teachers saying "I would say that's a hallmark in Clovis Unified. Identifying what each individual child's strength and or academic weakness is and then providing interventions to close that academic achievement gap."

Clovis Unified wasn't alone in its success. Visalia Unified schools improved their API scores by 10 points. Madera Unified went up 12 points. Students in Merced City School District did 5 points better. And Fresno Unified's API scores were up 14 points. Fresno Associate Superintendent Chris Evans said, "The growth is a step in the right direction."

Evans is thrilled with the double digit increase in test scores but feels the district can still do better. "We need to go deeper with mathematics; we're focusing on English learners this year in a targeted number of elementary schools and throughout secondary education."

For Miah Quinonez, the higher test scores are a boost in confidence. She said, "It makes me feel like I've learned a lot and I improved in my subjects."