Newsroom
Riverside County schools are closing the achievement gap
Riverside County schools continue to make significant improvement in student achievement, especially in closing the achievement gap for minority students.
The state recently released the 2009 Academic Performance Index (API) Report, which summarizes results from the spring 2009 testing season. The report shows that the average school API score in Riverside County increased by 17 points, from 739 API points in 2008 to 756 API points in 2009. This overall increase in test scores for Riverside County students continues a sustained upward trend in achievement that has continued since the API was introduced in 1999.
This year’s API Report also shows increased scores for minority students in Riverside County. The 2008-2009 results show the Riverside County school average API score for African American students has grown from 711 in 2008 to 727 in 2009. That’s a 16 point gain, compared to a 15-point gain in the state -- African American students in Riverside County have improved faster than the state average. The API score for Hispanic students in all public schools within Riverside County is 745, the 3rd highest score of any similar sized county in the state. This is a 17 point increase over the prior year—the 8th highest increase of any similar sized county in the state.
When viewed over a ten-year period, a clear trend toward sustained improvement emerges. From 1999 to 2009, Riverside County average school API scores for African American students rose 223 points, the highest increase of any similar sized county in the state. The achievement gap between African American students and all students has reduced from 87 points in 1999 to 29 points in 2009.
For Hispanic students in Riverside County, there has been a 222 point increase since 1999— the 3rd highest increase of any similar sized county in the state. The achievement gap between Hispanic students and all students has lowered from 68 points in 1999 to 11 points in 2009.
The 2009 Base API reports, including school rankings and growth targets, are posted on the CDE Accountability Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/index.asp.
For information contact:
Rick Peoples,
Public Information Officer
Telephone: (951) 826-6642
Fax: (951) 826-6199
rpeoples@rcoe.us
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