Alameda Schools Strong in Statewide Rankings

Most Alameda Unified schools compared favorably to others in the state in rankings released by the state Thursday, but the results were much more mixed when the schools were compared only to others with similar demographics. (See accompanying chart.)

Schools were given two scores ranging from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. One ranking shows the comparison with other schools in the state, and the second a comparison only with schools with similar demographics. Schools are only compared with others at the same level — elementary to elementary, middle to middle, and high school to high school.

The newly released rankings are based on the three-digit Academic Performance Index (API) scores released last August, which in turn are based on student performance on standardized tests given in 2011.

The highest ranking among Alameda schools went to Alameda Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), which received 10 in both the statewide and similar schools ranking.

Also receiving a 10 in statewide comparison were Earhart, Bay Farm and Edison elementary schools and Lincoln Middle School. Their scores, in comparison to similar schools, were Earhart 7, Bay Farm 4, Edison 9, and Lincoln 8.

Bay Area School of Enterprise (BASE) charter school was given a 1 in statewide comparison and no ranking for similar schools with a cautionary footnote that “APIs based on small numbers of students are less reliable and therefore should be carefully interpreted. Similar schools ranks are not calculated for small schools.”

Island High was listed as an Alternative Schools Accountability Model with no statewide or similar school ranking.

Results for the remaining elementary schools were: Lum, 9 in both categories; Otis 9 statewide and 5 for similar schools; Franklin 9 and 6; Henry Haight, 6 and 4; Nea Community Learning Center (charter) 6 and 5; Ruby Bridges 6 and 8; Washington 4 and 3; and, Paden 6 and 3.

The remaining middle school results were Academy of Alameda (AoA, charter) 5 and 2; and, Wood 4 and 4.

Other high school results are Alameda Community Learning Center (ACLC, charter) 9 and 2; Alameda High 9 and 3; and Encinal High, 5 and 7.

Also released were the 2011 Base API and Growth Target. These are ways of representing the school’s 2011 performance and the growth it was expected to make under the state’s accountability system in 2012. Once results from the 2012 testing are available, the Base and Growth numbers will be part of the calculation used to determine whether a school met its goal for improvement

More information is available on the state's API website.

You can also select  Alameda County’s results for a quick overview of results for Alameda City and other districts in the county.