3 County Schools Top API

SAN JOSE, CA— The top three performing schools in the 2007 Base Academic Performance Index reports released Wednesday, May 21 are all from Santa Clara County.

Also, 10 of the top 21 schools are likewise from Santa Clara County, according to the reports released by the California Department of Education and analyzed by the Santa Clara County Office of Education's Standards and Assessment staff.

High-achieving elementary schools Faria in Cupertino Union, Millikin in Santa Clara Unified, and Murdock-Portal in Cupertino Union were the top three schools in the state.

Not all the news was favorable, though. County schools' Base API median, while significantly higher than the state overall, actually decreased from last year, from 785 to 781. Also, while county elementary and middle schools' performances have risen significantly since 2000, high schools have dropped slightly over that span.

"The API results show that we have much to be proud of in this county, and also much to work on," said Joe Fimiani, interim county schools superintendent. "Nearly half of county schools have hit the targeted benchmark of 800. That's a success rate well ahead of the state as a whole.

"But student achievement in our high schools remains a matter of concern. And the achievement gap—which educators throughout the state continue to struggle with—poses a considerable challenge for us as well."

Staff Analysis

Date last updated: May 21, 2008