Stanford 9 Results Show Improvement

Ventura County students continued to outperform their peers across the state on the Stanford 9 exam this year, with scores generally exceeding the national averages in math, reading and language.

The county’s 98,600 public school students who were tested showed marked improvement in the early elementary grades, and posted smaller gains at the high school level, according to the standardized test scores released Monday by the state Department of Education.

“We’ve continued the tradition of achievement in Ventura County that we’ve shown for years,” said Ventura County Supt. of Schools Charles Weis.

But Weis stressed that the county’s 20 school districts need to continue their focus on raising scores among students in grades nine through 11, where reading scores are below the national average. “I’m firmly convinced that these are some of the brightest kids we have in high school, but these test scores don’t show that,” he said.

Overall, the percentage of students measured at or above the 50th percentile increased above 1998 scores by an average of four points in reading, nearly six points in language and 10 points in math.

The local gains paralleled similar improvements statewide. In California, the percentage of students at or above the national average increased by an average of three to eight percentage points above the 1998 scores in reading, language and math. And the state’s elementary school pupils showed a more dramatic improvement than high school students.

State Supt. of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin attributed the increases to class-size reduction, expanded teacher training and renewed instruction in basic skills. Many school districts hired reading and math specialists, started after-school programs for low-scoring students and offered workshops for teachers on reading and math instruction.

Some education officials, however, say the scores soared because many teachers set aside their regular curriculum specifically to prepare students for the exam. Although that means teaching the standards in some classrooms, it means “teaching to the test” in others, they said.

Stanford 9 scores are measured against those of a national pool of test-takers. The 50th percentile is the national average, with half that pool scoring lower and half scoring higher.

This spring, about 4.3 million California public school students in grades two through 11 took the multiple-choice exam, which measures basic skills in reading, language, math, spelling, science and social studies, depending on the grade level.

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This was the third year the state had given the Stanford 9 test, and the first year that the results would be used to determine which schools will be eligible for financial rewards. For now, the test scores are the only ingredient in a statewide school ranking program, which aims to hold teachers and principals accountable for student performance.

The state will release the revised accountability rankings, known as the Academic Performance Index, in the fall. If schools reach their targets, teachers and administrators could be eligible for cash awards of up to $25,000 each. And top-scoring students could also receive $1,000 scholarships, while low-scoring students could be held back a grade.

The scores released Monday are those of all students, including the approximately 25% of Ventura County and California students who speak limited English. Traditionally, those students score below their peers on the English-language test. Because of problems in collecting that and other demographic data, the state Department of Education does not plan to release those students’ scores until August.

Parents of all public school students who were tested, however, have already received individual student reports in the mail.

Ventura County students outscored those in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Orange counties. In fact, the county ranks 17th out of the state’s 58 counties on all the tests combined.

The biggest jumps in Ventura County were in the second grade. In reading, 62% of second-graders scored above the national average, compared with 55% in 1999 and 50% in 1998. In math, 65% of the county’s second-graders scored above the national average, up from 54% last year and 48% in 1998.

The 11th-graders, on the other hand, showed very slight improvement. In reading, 43% of high school juniors scored at or above the national average, up from 42% in 1999 and down from 44% in 1998. And in math, 51% of students scored at or above the 50th percentile, which was the same as last year and up from 48% in 1998.

High school students often don’t consider the Stanford 9 test important, Supt. Weis said. They are more concerned with Advanced Placement and SAT exams, which are used to determine college admissions. So teachers face a daunting challenge trying to motivate them to do their best on the Stanford 9.

* Weis said Ventura County’s top-scoring districts were Oak Park, Conejo Valley and Pleasant Valley, all three of which are in affluent areas of the county and have few limited-English speakers.

In Oak Park, between 75% and 89% of the district’s students scored at or above the national average in math, while 63% to 89% of students surpassed the national benchmark in reading.

In Conejo Unified, between 72% and 81% of students scored at or above the national level in math, and between 63% and 80% of students reached that mark in reading.

Simi Valley students also scored among the highest in the county, and showed marked improvement over last year. Among eighth-graders, 68% scored above the 50th percentile in reading and math. In 1999, 65% reached that benchmark in reading, and 55% did so in math.

Rebecca Wetzel, Simi Valley’s director of elementary education, said the district has focused on intensive reading instruction in the early grades, and on aligning the curriculum to the state standards. Simi Valley principals, she said, will use this year’s scores to identify students who need help, and to pinpoint weak areas of the curriculum.

In Oxnard Elementary, where more than half of the students speak limited English, the scores showed some gains and some declines. For example, 43% of sixth-graders scored at or above the national average in math, compared with 36% last year. But in reading, 28% of sixth-graders scored at or above the national average in reading, down from 30% in 1999.

“Recognizing what our challenges are, we are on the right track,” said Richard Duarte, superintendent of the Oxnard Elementary School District.

In the Ventura Unified district, students showed modest improvement in almost every grade in reading, language and math.

For example, 47% of the district’s 10th-graders scored at or above the national average in reading, compared with 43% in 1999. In math, 50% of 10th-graders scored at or above the national average in reading, compared with 46% last year.

The Stanford 9 test, which is published by Harcourt Educational Measurement, has drawn criticism from teachers and administrators across the state, who argue that the exam isn’t completely aligned with the newly adopted state academic standards.

But the state is attempting to change that. For the second year, the test includes a set of questions in math and reading/language arts that is more closely aligned with California’s standards. And in coming years, there will be questions based on state standards in science and history. Ventura County students got a higher percentage of those standards-based questions right this year at almost every grade level.

Critics also maintain that the Stanford 9 test places too much pressure on younger students, and may not accurately assess what they have learned. So principals continue to rely on other methods in addition to the Stanford 9 test to measure student performance.

“Certainly we cannot put our heads in the sand and say these scores don’t matter,” said Wetzel in Simi Valley. But, she said, “you cannot determine an entire instructional program based on one test.”

FYI

Stanford 9 results can be found on the California Department of Education Web site at https://www.cde.ca.gov. The site contains all three years of scores for schools, districts, counties and the state.

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STATE RELEASES SCORES

As in Ventura County, lower-grade students fared better statewide compared with previous years. A1, S1, Our Times

How to Read the Scores

Reading 2000: Percentage of students scoring at or above the national average on the 2000 Stanford 9 test. A 50 means that half the school’s students were at or above the national average.

Reading Change: Change from 1998’s percentage of students scoring at or above the national average. (When 1998 comparisons were unavailable--for example, with a new school--1999 data were used, if available.)

Math 2000: Percentage of students scoring at or above the national average on the 2000 Stanford 9 test.

Math Change: Change from 1998’s percentage of students scoring at or above the national average. (When 1998 comparisons were unavailable--for example, with a new school--1999 data were used, if available.)

Standard 2000: Average percentage of language arts questions answered correctly. These items are included in the portion of the test designed to assess knowledge of California’s content standards.

Standard Change: Change from 1999’s average percentage of language arts questions answered correctly.

For more information, see first page of tables.

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Note: * means the number of students tested was 10 or fewer.

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HOW TO INTERPRET THE NUMBERS

Beginning with this year’s data, The Times is reporting the percentage of students scoring at or above the 50th percentile, which is the national average.

In the past, the newspaper reported the “percentile rank,” which compared the test results with those of students in the same grade across the country.

The number being reported this year is the one the state Department of Education uses in the year-to-year comparisons posted on its Web site. The differences in year-to-year comparisons represent the percentage of students who moved up (or down) in the rankings.

The percentage at or above the 50th percentile is considered by most education experts to be the best statistical measure of progress at a school over time.

Main stories, A1, B1

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GRADE 2

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 49 9 57 14 57.7 2.8 Ventura County County 62 12 65 17 63.3 4 Briggs Elementary District 51 22 69 31 57.2 16 Conejo Valley Unified District 80 8 81 8 71.9 3.8 Fillmore Unified District 41 21 51 23 55.2 5.7 Hueneme Elementary District 34 4 47 16 51.6 0.9 Mesa Union Elementary District 61 4 74 16 65.6 9.6 Moorpark Unified District 60 7 63 10 62 3.7 Mupu Elementary -- -- -- -- -- -- District Oak Park Unified District 84 8 89 16 76.1 2.4 Ocean View Elementary District 54 25 51 16 56.3 5.2 Ojai Unified District 70 21 70 20 66.1 2.8 Oxnard Elementary District 45 9 48 19 53.1 3.4 Pleasant Valley Elem. District 70 8 71 16 68.3 2.4 Rio Elementary District 37 2 50 6 50.9 -0.3 Santa Clara Elementary -- -- -- -- -- -- District Santa Paula Elementary District 38 17 48 24 52.4 9.3 Simi Valley Unified District 70 18 72 22 65.7 4.8 Somis Union Elementary District 60 34 55 25 60 1.7 Ventura Unified District 67 16 63 17 66.8 4

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GRADE 3

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 44 6 56 16 57.2 2.4 Ventura County County 55 7 63 17 62.1 1.6 Briggs Elementary District 44 6 44 11 53.9 -4.8 Conejo Valley Unified District 74 6 81 10 70.7 1.5 Fillmore Unified District 35 8 49 24 56 6 Hueneme Elementary District 33 5 49 23 53.1 4 Mesa Union Elementary District 62 2 69 17 65.5 -0.5 Moorpark Unified District 60 9 72 23 65.9 0.7 Mupu Elementary District 67 67 72 72 66 - Oak Park Unified District 86 5 87 23 76.1 0.4 Ocean View Elementary District 50 10 74 32 60.7 7.8 Ojai Unified District 67 14 76 30 67.2 1.5 Oxnard Elementary District 34 10 42 18 50.8 -0.7 Pleasant Valley Elem. District 69 8 68 9 68.7 2.8 Rio Elementary District 31 10 45 22 51.6 0.7 Santa Clara Elementary -- -- -- -- -- -- District Santa Paula Elementary District 24 6 42 20 50.1 4 Simi Valley Unified District 61 2 69 15 63.9 1.9 Somis Union Elementary District 67 29 60 25 64.8 14.9 Ventura Unified District 56 10 64 22 64.1 1.4

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GRADE 4

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 45 5 51 12 52.1 1.8 Ventura County County 54 4 57 13 56.6 1.2 Briggs Elementary District 42 25 45 28 47.9 4.3 Conejo Valley Unified District 75 4 77 11 66 1.2 Fillmore Unified District 32 13 36 22 47.4 1.6 Hueneme Elementary District 37 11 46 20 49.2 3.4 Mesa Union Elementary District 76 28 63 25 66.8 8.1 Moorpark Unified District 62 6 65 15 61.7 3.7 Mupu Elementary -- -- -- -- -- -- District Oak Park Unified District 89 10 82 13 71.9 0.6 Ocean View Elementary District 28 -5 34 9 46.8 -2.8 Ojai Unified District 64 3 72 21 61.7 3.6 Oxnard Elementary District 27 3 37 13 43.9 0.2 Pleasant Valley Elem. District 68 3 67 6 63.1 1.5 Rio Elementary District 39 13 44 22 48.2 5.9 Santa Clara Elementary -- -- -- -- -- -- District Santa Paula Elementary District 29 2 37 9 44.6 3.8 Simi Valley Unified District 61 0 63 8 58.7 -0.4 Somis Union Elementary District 46 -1 43 -7 51.1 0 Ventura Co. Office of Education District -- -- -- -- -- -- Ventura Unified District 59 7 58 16 58.7 2.4

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GRADE 5

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 44 3 50 9 52.4 1.3 Ventura County County 53 2 58 11 56.9 0.7 Briggs Elementary District 25 6 47 24 46.3 2.9 Conejo Valley Unified District 73 2 76 7 65.6 0.8 Fillmore Unified District 36 15 38 19 50 3.7 Hueneme Elementary District 38 1 49 12 50.7 2.4 Mesa Union Elementary District 75 14 75 36 67.8 6 Moorpark Unified District 62 2 70 12 61.8 1.7 Mupu Elementary District -- -- -- -- -- -- Oak Park Unified District 83 5 84 12 71.2 0.8 Ocean View Elementary District 42 10 50 11 52.1 3.9 Ojai Unified District 65 3 64 13 60.2 -2.4 Oxnard Elementary District 25 2 31 9 43.9 -0.9 Pleasant Valley Elementary District 66 -3 70 7 63.6 -1.1 Rio Elementary District 28 4 36 13 45.2 1.2 Santa Clara Elementary District -- -- -- -- -- -- Santa Paula Elementary District 29 1 41 13 45.7 0.6 Simi Valley Unified District 60 -1 63 7 59.6 0.5 Somis Union Elementary District 55 7 50 3 53.6 1 Ventura Co. Office of Education District -- -- -- -- -- -- Ventura Unified District 58 5 59 12 58.6 1.7

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GRADE 6

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 46 4 55 9 54.3 1 Ventura County County 55 2 65 10 59.1 1.3 Briggs Elementary District 31 -4 47 23 50.3 3.3 Conejo Valley Unified District 76 1 81 3 67.8 1.2 Fillmore Unified District 36 7 44 16 52.1 4 Hueneme Elementary District 36 5 53 10 52.1 -0.2 Mesa Union Elementary District 62 3 58 11 64 -1 Moorpark Unified District 60 2 67 15 63.3 0.5 Mupu Elementary District 38 38 73 9 61 -- Oak Park Unified District 81 -1 88 4 72.2 1.9 Ocean View Elementary District 37 2 36 -7 52.9 4.6 Ojai Unified District 67 1 71 7 64.4 2 Oxnard Elementary District 28 -3 43 10 48.2 1.3 Pleasant Valley Elementary District 75 7 84 11 67.2 2.9 Rio Elementary District 36 9 47 12 49.1 3.3 Santa Clara Elementary District -- -- -- -- -- -- Santa Paula Elementary District 32 8 51 25 47.8 0.8 Simi Valley Unified District 65 3 74 8 61.7 0.7 Somis Union Elementary District 40 -15 52 8 52.9 -0.2 Ventura Co. Office of Education District -- -- -- -- -- -- Ventura Unified District 58 4 65 13 59.6 0.7

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GRADE 7

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 46 2 48 6 57.7 0.8 Ventura County County 55 1 56 7 61.8 0.9 Briggs Elementary District 29 -1 44 1 51.9 -0.4 Conejo Valley Unified District 72 -5 76 0 68.6 0.3 Fillmore Unified District 38 15 25 6 54.1 1.9 Hueneme Elementary District 38 -1 47 10 56.3 1.5 Mesa Union Elementary District 64 6 68 4 68 -1.2 Moorpark Unified District 68 5 71 18 67.4 2.8 Mupu Elementary District -- -- -- -- -- -- Oak Park Unified District 87 5 85 7 74.8 2.2 Ocean View Elementary District 37 8 31 -6 55.7 -0.1 Ojai Unified District 64 0 67 11 64.1 -1.3 Oxnard Elementary District 27 1 28 6 51.6 0.2 Pleasant Valley Elementary District 74 6 73 7 68.9 0.7 Rio Elementary District 26 -2 26 0 50.6 -1.7 Santa Paula Elementary District 33 7 38 13 53.3 2.1 Simi Valley Unified District 65 3 64 10 63.6 0.5 Somis Union Elementary District 64 17 46 6 62.6 4.8 Ventura Co. Office of Education District 5 -10 19 11 35.8 -- Ventura Unified District 61 3 58 10 63.4 2.8

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GRADE 8

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 49 3 48 6 56.6 -0.5 Ventura County County 60 4 58 10 61 -0.3 Briggs Elementary District 45 4 50 -18 52.6 -1 Conejo Valley Unified District 76 -3 77 1 68 -1.4 Fillmore Unified District 41 10 31 9 54.6 5.4 Hueneme Elementary District 43 5 43 12 55 -1.6 Mesa Union Elementary District 68 -3 71 4 67.7 4.3 Moorpark Unified District 63 -2 69 14 63.8 0 Mupu Elementary District 67 67 53 53 65.4 3 Oak Park Unified District 87 2 80 5 72.1 -2.2 Ocean View Elementary District 42 8 38 7 55.1 0.2 Ojai Unified District 71 -1 66 -1 62.9 -3.2 Oxnard Elementary District 38 7 38 14 53.8 2.1 Pleasant Valley Elementary District 76 7 76 17 68.2 0 Rio Elementary District 34 6 28 4 50.3 -1 Santa Paula Elementary District 37 7 29 5 51.4 0.2 Simi Valley Unified District 68 5 68 13 63 -0.4 Somis Union Elementary District 62 11 52 15 58.8 1.2 Ventura Co. Office of Education District 18 11 7 3 36.1 2.3 Ventura Unified District 60 4 56 11 60.8 -1.6

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GRADE 9

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 35 1 51 4 54.3 1.2 Ventura County County 44 3 59 6 58.3 1.1 Conejo Valley Unified District 65 1 78 0 66.8 1.9 Fillmore Unified District 15 4 35 12 44.1 1 Moorpark Unified District 51 4 71 8 62.1 -0.6 Oak Park Unified District 68 -3 84 -2 70.8 -0.3 Ojai Unified District 51 1 73 8 62.2 -3.4 Oxnard Union High District 30 3 45 7 52.3 0.2 Santa Paula Union High District 24 1 45 4 50.9 3.8 Simi Valley Unified District 54 3 67 3 62 0.3 Ventura Co. Office of Education District 11 -2 7 4 37 1.7 Ventura Unified District 49 5 63 9 61.1 4

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GRADE 10

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 34 2 46 5 56.1 0.3 Ventura County County 42 3 51 6 60 0.9 Conejo Valley Unified District 64 3 73 5 68.4 0.2 Fillmore Unified District 18 3 24 6 47.4 1.7 Moorpark Unified District 50 9 54 10 64.1 0.5 Oak Park Unified District 74 13 80 16 72.1 -0.2 Ojai Unified District 55 5 74 16 65 2.1 Oxnard Union High District 28 2 38 5 54.1 0.4 Santa Paula Union High District 18 4 22 2 50.8 -0.6 Simi Valley Unified District 48 -1 61 6 62.9 0.1 Ventura Co. Office of Education District 9 1 6 3 35.3 -1.1 Ventura Unified District 47 5 50 7 62.4 3

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GRADE 11

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NAME READ READ MATH MATH STD STD 00 Chg 00 CHG 00 Chg California Statewide 36 0 48 4 54.8 1.1 Ventura County County 43 -1 51 3 58 1.2 Conejo Valley Unified District 63 -1 72 2 66.1 2.2 Fillmore Unified District 19 0 33 16 45.3 -3.7 Moorpark Unified District 54 3 59 10 62.6 4.9 Oak Park Unified District 63 2 75 11 66.3 -1.6 Ojai Unified District 48 1 68 11 58.8 -1.2 Oxnard Union High District 30 -3 37 0 52.7 0 Santa Paula Union High District 29 5 37 13 53.4 7.3 Simi Valley Unified District 48 -3 60 3 61.3 1.6 Ventura Co. Office of Education District 8 1 7 1 35.2 -1.1 Ventura Unified District 49 4 52 6 59.9 2.7

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