Stanton, Sandburg Schools Reveal Student Progress

Stanton Elementary and Sandburg Middle School recently reported findings of last year’s testing results, with both schools showing gains.

Stanton showed a modest gain in API with 852, a two-point gain over last year, according to Sara Najarro, Stanton principal. The school is 52 points above the state goal of 800 and is 74 points above the current state average of 778.

Some subgroups did not fare as well as others. White students gained 25 points over last year in API to 865, while Hispanic students dropped by 11 points to 835.

“We’ve had an upward trend in the percent proficient and advanced in the last three years in Language Arts," Najarro said.

The school made AYP in English Language Arts under Safe Harbor, below the required 67.6 percent proficiency mark. School-wide, 63.6 percent of students were proficient/advanced. Under Safe Harbor, schools can achieve AYP by decreasing the percentage of students in below proficient categories by 10 percent from the previous year.

The school exceeded its math target of 68.5 percent with 78.3 proficient/advanced.

In California Standard Testing ELA, fourth grade students showed the biggest gains with a 20-point improvement over last year, according to Najarro.

The main focus for continued growth, according to Najarro, is to continue analyzing patterns and trends over the last four years and either continue current methods, or apply new ones.

Sandburg had impressive gains in API last year, with a 19-point gain in 2011 to 863. Special education students jumped 81 points over 2009-2010 in API to 687.

“We believe this is due to increase in grade-level standards and standards-based instruction,” said Sandburg Principal Scott Bell.

Socio-economically disadvantaged students enjoyed a 37-point gain in API.

In eighth grade science, students showed consistent gains and had a tremendous jump the past year with 82 percent proficient/advanced.

In math, the sixth and seventh grades posted modest gains, with 73 percent and 68 percent proficient/advanced, respectively.

“We are pleased with the overall growth,” Bell said.

For Sandburg, their goals for improvement involve continued progress in increasing proficiency in ELA and math, while integrating technology in the class with SMART Boards and document cameras, improve note-taking on vocabulary development and increasing algebra readiness on all levels.