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State releases academic performance rankings for local schools
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More from Breaking NewsAbout 15 percent of Ventura County schools rank in the top 10 percent statewide for student test scores, according to new rankings released today by the California Department of Education.
That's about the same percentage that made the top tier last year. Also similar to last year's rankings, fewer than 1 percent of Ventura County schools scored in the bottom 10 percent statewide.
The rankings, known as the Academic Performance Index, were based on student scores on standardized tests mostly taken in spring 2007.
Schools receive a score based on a scale of 200 to 1,000, with 800 the target. They were ranked in two categories, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 the highest. The first ranking compared their scores with all other schools in California. The second compared schools with similar demographics, such as family income and minority enrollment.
"I think they are very helpful for schools," state Superintendent Jack O'Connell said today of the rankings. By identifying which are scoring the highest, he said, schools can easily locate them to find the best ways to improve student achievement.
"Ten years ago, we didn't have any assessment system at all," O'Connell said. "We've come a long way."
For a complete list of the rankings, visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/apireports.asp.
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