Pasadena Unified’s Overall API Score Inches Upwards

Academic Performance Index (API) numbers released last week by the California Department of Education showed that, overall, the Pasadena Unified School District gained three points, climbing from 758 to 761, in comparison to last year.

According to the numbers released by the California Department of Education, all PUSD middle schools saw a gain in API scores, and 10 out of 19 elementary schools kept or saw gains in API scores, while three of four high schools slipped in the rankings.

The API is a measurement of academic performance and progress of individual schools in California. It is one of the main components of the Public School Accountability Act passed by the California legislature in 1999. API scores ranges from a low of 200 to a high of 1000.

A school’s score or placement on the API is designed to be an indicator of a school’s performance level and is calculated annually by the California Department of Education.

The three biggest increases in API scores in the District were achieved by Franklin, Hamilton and Jackson elementary schools, from 748 to 784, 865 to 901 and 737 to 770, respectively.

Ironically, PUSD elementary schools also saw some of the District’s largest losses in scores:  Altadena Elementary went from 818 to 782, Roosevelt Elementary from 888 to 846 and Daniel Webster Elementary from 866 to 839.

The report said three out of the four PUSD high schools dropped in API scores with Blair High dropping from 716 to 702 and John Muir High from 646 to 636.

The biggest API point score losses, in elementary schools, were from Altadena Elementary at 818 to 782, Roosevelt Elementary, from 888 to 846 and Daniel Webster Elementary from 866 to 839.

The overall highest ranking school district-wide was Sierra Madre Elementary, which bested its score of 908 from last year and climbed higher to 911.