Newport-Mesa Schools Continue API Climb

The Academic Performance Index score for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, which summarizes students' performance on a series of tests, increased by 11 points this year.

According to figures released today by the California Department of Education, the district's score rose 11 points to 838. An API of 1,000 is perfect but is rarely attained. The results continue the district's trend of rising test scores over the last nine years, according to the N-MUSD.

Overall the district had 20 schools show improvement, six decline and three remain the same with last year’s scores, district officials reported. Anderson Elementary School came in at 961, the highest score in the district, while Newport Coast Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Newport Heights Elementary and Mariners Elementary schools also scored above 900. Corona del Mar and Early College high schools also surpassed the 900 API mark.

Costa Mesa's Davis Magnet School showed the largest growth in the district with an API score of 951, up by 43 points.

“Our overall test results are excellent news,” Fred Navarro, superintendent of the N-MUSD, said. “Our teachers and administrators have worked diligently in identifying academic areas for improvement as well as targeting individual skills for specific students. Their hard work can be seen in the growth demonstrated in the 2012 scores.”

The district received a high performing designation from the State for scoring over 800 on the overall API for the fourth straight year.

The API is based mostly on standardized tests, although it also takes into consideration graduation rates and attendance.