3 Area Schools Fail to Reach Test Score Targets

Santa Paula, Channel Islands and Rio Mesa high schools did not meet their targets for improvement on a test designed to measure academic progress, according to updated scores released by state education officials this month.

Each school’s Academic Performance Index was not released in the state’s October report because of a technicality that excluded ninth-graders from the scores. The index is based on a standardized test given to students in second through 11th grades each spring.

The updated release also shows that Camarillo and Hueneme high schools met growth targets this year and will be eligible for cash rewards.

Channel Islands, Oxnard and Rio Mesa high schools had applied for a state intervention program designed to help struggling schools boost scores.

Channel Islands was the only school accepted into the program, Supt. Gary Davis said.

The school will get a $50,000 grant to craft a plan and then will have two years to raise Academic Performance Index scores before being subject to sanctions, such as teacher reassignments or state takeover.