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Pleasanton schools perform well in state testing
Some schools' scores drop but still well above state average

by Glenn Wohltmann

Pleasanton schools did well on the state's Academic Performance Index (API) tests, but some areas still need work, according to state documents and local officials.

Overall, the district's average climbed by 5 points, and all schools except for Village High are well above the state's goal, a score of 800 or better. Pleasanton's API average is 906; in 2009 its score was 901.

Seven of Pleasanton's schools made advances, with some, such as Hearst and Vintage Hills elementary schools, Harvest Park and Pleasanton middle schools, gaining 10 points or more. Three schools -- Mohr Elementary, Hart Middle and Foothill High -- scored the same as last year.

API scores dropped at four elementary schools: Fairlands, Lydiksen, Valley View and Walnut Grove, with Valley View dropping 9 points.

Overall math and science scores have been going up, according to Cindy Galbo, assistant superintendent of educational services. She said 85 percent of eighth-graders are taking algebra, with 70 percent scoring proficient or advanced; and 7 percent of eighth-graders are taking geometry, with 100 percent proficient or advanced.

"In science, our fifth-grade science results, 90 percent of our fifth-graders are proficient or advanced, which are some of the highest scores in the state," Galbo said.

Galbo traced the drops at some schools to three subgroups.

"Our socio-economically disadvantaged students are significantly below the rest of our population," she said. "And then our students with disabilities, they score below average."

She said the third group is Hispanics. But, Galbo said, all three groups have been the focus of extra attention from the district and the problem with all three groups is statewide, not just in Pleasanton, where some gains have been made.

"We see success. Our subgroups are improving," Galbo said. "There's still a gap, but the scores are going up."

Due to an error made by the state, Village High shows a drop of 102 points, Galbo explained.

"We've resubmitted our data to the state and they'll recalculate the score," she said.

Posted by angela reiswig, a resident of the Laguna Vista neighborhood, on Sep 17, 2010 at 5:30 pm

My son goes to village high school. Even though he has learning disabilities he has been doing very well at Village. I think its unfair to rate Village as not doing as well as other schools when it comes to test results. My son never got any grades any higher than a D all of his life and on his last report card he only got 1 and no F's. So as far as I'm concerned Village is doing something right!