How are the rating and scores defined?
The greatschools.org rating runs 1-10 and is used as a tool to compare schools across a state using test scores. Every state has a different set of standardized tests used to calculate the greatschools.org rating. (A rating of 1-3 means 'below average,' 4-7 is 'average' and 8-10 is 'above average.')
In California, until 2014, students grades 2 though 11 took a series of tests through the STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) program. There are many tests that different students take at different times and it gets confusing fast. To help provide a way to understand the performance of a school through the variety of test scores, the Academic Performance Index (API) is used. API is on a scale of 200-1000, where a score of 800 is the performance goal for all California Schools.
In other words, schools are rated and scored on how well students perform on tests.
In 2014, the State of California conducted a field test of a new computer-based test called the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), which will replace the STAR tests. The results of the 2013 CAASPP were not published, therefore the last published test results for all John Gill and all public schools were given in the spring of 2013. The Redwood City School District had already begun the transition to the new Common Core curriculum in the 2012-13 school year, but the 2013 STAR tests measured students’ knowledge of the previous California State Standards, not the Common Core State Standards. The STAR tests given in the spring of 2013 were not testing what students were being taught during the 2012-13 school year.
The State of California is currently designing a different system for reporting results of the new state tests. This will include a recalibration of the API, but no one knows yet what the new reporting system will be.
Regarding John Gill, the existing published test scores are out-of-date.
How does the school district use the test scores?
The school district takes test scores for John Gill and all schools very seriously and spends a lot of time analyzing test results, but they use the scores differently than realtors or potential residents often do. The school district is most interested in identifying specific students who need extra help or extra challenge. The school and district are also looking at the percentage of students who are at grade level in reading or math, and works hard to increase the percentage of students within certain groups, such as students who are learning English. Besides the state-administered test, such as the old STAR tests, the district also uses other internal measures such as the Fountas and Pinnell Reading Assessment to assess student learning. Teachers and principals study the results of tests and class work to figure out where instruction may need to be adjusted, and to determine whether some students need to move at a faster or slower pace.
What do the scores actually tell me about a school?
In theory, API scores are supposed to measure academic performance and are therefore thought to predict the QUALITY of a school. However, a recent analysis of 160 School Districts in Southern California looked at the effect of family income, student class size, teacher pay, money spent per student, and percentage of students learning English.
The analysis showed that API scores most accurately predict one outcome: family income.
Students considered “Socioeconomically Disadvantaged” were more likely to show predictably lower scores on tests than any other factor examined. In academic circles, the API is sometimes referred to as the 'Affluent Parent Index.' Thus, the API seems to measure the percentage of students whose parents are economically challenged, and NOT the overall quality of the school.
What does this tell us about John Gill?
The 3-year average Academic Performance Index (API) score for John Gill Elementary (JGE) is 727. In 2013 John Gill Elementary had 77% of its students who took the standardized tests categorized as “Economically Disadvantaged.” Based on this information, JGE’s API score does seem to reflect the socioeconomic status of the majority of its students. The analysis of schools in Southern California did not give an explanation for why socioeconomically children score lower on tests. However, families that struggle economically often cope with issues such as poor diet or nutrition, working parents with less time to help children with school, less health care, less opportunities to learn over the summer, or parents with less education who may put less emphasis on academics.
Additionally, the current student body does not reflect the diversity of the neighborhood and the school is currently under enrolled. Where are all the neighborhood children attending school?
While developing the Mandarin Immersion Program, we spoke with a number of neighborhood families who have been dissuaded to enroll their children at John Gill due to the low scores and ratings. Some have chosen to attend private schools (there are a couple of good parochial schools in the neighborhood), out-of-district more highly rated public schools, or have moved or planned to move to districts with 'better schools.' Several families that decided to remain in the Redwood City public schools have taken advantage of the “school of choice” option to enroll at a different school (such as Adelante Spanish Immersion). Unfortunately, these justifiable and understandable actions perpetuate the drain of potentially high-test-scoring students. Hence, test scores and API at JGE have remained low.
So, the greatschools.org rating and API tell us many students currently at JGE are economically disadvantaged. What about curriculum? campus environment? administrative leadership? parent involvement? teachers? all the different factors that one might use to define the quality of a school?
Top 10 Reasons Mandarin Immersion at John Gill is a Great Opportunity
Plans for the Mandarin Immersion Program
Although Mandarin Immersion @ John Gill does not yet exist, there are many ways you can understand what the program will be like and whether the program will be a good fit for your child.
- Visit John Gill and ask questions: attend any of 3 info sessions in December
- Tour an area MI program to see students and teachers in an immersion classroom
- Join the Parents Group and be included in the curriculum development and teacher hiring process
- Expose your child to Chinese or any other languages by attending a language program/class/lesson (i.e. Universe of Colors and Hanlin Academy of Belmont)
It is our hope that the Mandarin Immersion Program will draw and retain more students and families committed to academic excellence. While improved test scores that lead to a higher API are something to expect in the future for John Gill, the greatest measure of success will be the quality of our students' learning experience: an educational experience that we have the opportunity to create right now.
自己做功课，独立思考，别让一个简单的数字决定孩子的教育。
Do your homework and think independently, don't let a simple number determine the path of one’s education.
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For instructions to register, see the MI Registration Guide for Fall 2016.
Still have questions? Visit our FAQ Page.
Still have questions? Visit our FAQ Page.
