Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 21, 2011

7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 21, 2011 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

PUSD HIGH SCHOOLS AGAIN IMPROVE PERFORMANCE ON STATE EXIT EXAM

Passage Rate by 10th Graders Continues to Rise

Alverno High School

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Ann M. Gillick 

E-mail address: agillick@alverno-hs.org

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: David L. Vannasdall

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca, 

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 Head of School: Joanne Testa Cross

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.com 

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527 Principal: James Lugenbuehl

E-mail address: jml@bcslions.org

Carden of the Foothills School

429 Wildrose Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016 626/358-9414 
626/358-5164 fax office@cardenofthefoothills.com

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410 Head of School: Patty Patano

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road

Pasadena, Ca. 91107 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

LaSalle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 

website: www.lasallehs.org

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 

(626) 471-2000, 

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Norma Coombs Alternative School

2600 Paloma St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 798-0759 Principal: Dr. Vanessa Watkins 

E-mail address: watkins12@pusd.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 798-8901 Principal: Dr. Derick Evans

website: www.pasadenahigh.org

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave. Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 795-6981 website: www.pusd@pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-9028 website: www.st-rita.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Gayle Bluemel

E-mail address:gbluemel220@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Gayle Bluemel

Contact person: Garrett Newsom, Asst. Principal

E-mail address: gbluemel220@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166 

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 795-6981 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

2009 February2010 March2011 MarchBlair74%78%79%
Marshall84%90%92%
Muir 59%66%73%
Pasadena High84%86%89%
CIS Academy82%62%74%
Rose City42%30%33%
District*75%78%82%
2009 February2010 March2011 MarchBlair147177155Marshall208219212Muir 162182196Pasadena High456462497CIS Academy91614Rose City131011District*997106810882009 February2010 March2011 MarchBlair66%83%78%
Marshall78%90%92%
Muir 61%70%77%
Pasadena High80%82%87%
CIS Academy62%62%74%
Rose City30%31%34%
District*71%79%82%
2009 February2010 March2011 MarchBlair135189151Marshall194218211Muir 166192207Pasadena High440439481CIS Academy81614Rose City101111District*95410691077* District numbers include NPS results# of Math Passed# of ELA PassedPercentage of 10th Grade Math Students Passed During Census Administrations% of Math PassedNumber of 10th Grade Math Students Passed During Census AdministrationsNumber of 10th Grade ELA Students Passed During Census AdministrationsPasadena Unified School District 
2009 – 2011 CAHSEE Census ResultsPercentage of 10th Grade ELA Students Passed During Census Administrations% of ELA Passed
Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Unified 
School District (PUSD) today announced 
that more 10th grade students passed the 
California High School Exit Examination 
(CAHSEE) on their first try, bringing the 
overall passage rate among district students 
to 82 percent on both the English Language 
Arts (ELA) and the mathematics portions 
of the test. Last year, PUSD’s overall annual 
passage rate for first-time takers was 78 
percent in ELA and 79 percent in Math.

 “These first time passage rates are a good 
indicator of the upward momentum that 
our high schools are experiencing because 
of a focus on academic rigor and targeted 
instruction,” said Superintendent Edwin 
Diaz. “Passing the test on the first try means 
that our 10th graders are acquiring mastery 
of core subjects earlier so that they can 
access more complex subject matter during 
high school, which gives them an advantage 
in college and careers.”

All high schools registered gains in passage 
of the English Language Arts portion of the 
test, with John Muir High School improving 
by 7 percent. In math, all but one school 
made gains when compared to last year. 
Again, Muir High School jumped 7 percent.

As part of the upgrades to PUSD’s data 
system infrastructure over the last four 
years, the District is now able to more 
quickly receive and analyze the results 
of tests and other assessments, allowing 
teachers and administrators to better plan 
instruction and target scarce resources 
where they are most needed. Students who 
are struggling academically can be identified 
and supported earlier.

California requires that high school 
students pass the CAHSEE to be eligible 
for graduation. Students are required to 
take the CAHSEE for the first time in the 
tenth grade. Students who do not pass the 
test as tenth graders are given additional 
opportunities to take and pass the test.

 Data cited is for the March 2011 PUSD 
administration of the test, does not include 
results of make-up tests earlier this month, 
and compares census 10th grade testing from 
2009, 2010, and 2011. Full passage data for 
the entire 2010-2011 school year, including 
comparisons with county and state rates will 
be available from the California Department 
of Education this summer.

PASADENA EDUCATIONAL 
FOUNDATION 8TH ANNUAL 
K-8 SUMMER ENRICHMENT 
PROGRAM

 

WHEN: July 5 to Aug. 4, 2011, Monday 
through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (8:15 
a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Wilson Middle School)

 

WHERE: Franklin Elementary (K-5) 527 
W. Ventura St., Altadena; Norma Coombs 
Elementary (K-5) 2600 Paloma St., 
Pasadena; Willard Elementary (K-5) 301 S. 
Madre St., Pasadena; Wilson Middle School 
(5-8) 300 Madre St., Pasadena.

 

HOW: Mix of academic subjects with hands-
on exploration helps students to prepare 
for the upcoming school year through 
unique and fun learning experiences. 
Students in grades 2-8 attend three classes 
each morning; kindergarten and 1st grade 
students remain in one self-contained class. 
Classes include Band; Chess; Ceramics; 
Cooking; Pre-Algebra; Robotics; Writing; 
Spanish, Engineering, and many more.

 

TUITION: PUSD Students: $375 first 
enrollment; $350 per each sibling. Non-
PUSD Students: $450 first enrollment; $425 
per sibling


What’s On 

YOUR Mind? What 
D0 YOU Think? 

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Contact us at: 

editor@mtnviewsnews.com 

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mountainviewsnews

PEF’S 2010 HIGH 
SCHOOL SUMMER 
ENRICHMENT 
PROGRAM

 

WHEN: July 5 through 
Aug. 5, Monday through 
Friday, 7:50 a.m. to 1:05 
p.m.

 

WHERE: Marshall 
Fundamental High 
School, 990 N. Allen Ave., 
Pasadena 91104.

 

WHAT: Classes include 
Computer Programming; 
Preparing for the SAT; 
Driver’s Education; 
AP Algebra Prep; Pre-
Calculus; Geometry; 
AP European History; 
Masterful Writing; Spanish 
2; Art, Cartooning 
and Graphic Novels; 
Photography.

 

TUITION: PUSD Students: 
$150 - $300 (depending 
on units) Non-PUSD 
Students: $175 - $350

 

REGISTRATION: For 
a brochure and more 
information call PEF at 
626-396-3600, ext. 88350. 
Register online at www.
pasedfoundation.org/
summer/high-school

Looking Into The Life Of A Teenager

 By Meaghan Allen

Writer’s Block

I have come to the realization that writing, no matter how good at it 
you are, not saying that I am phenomenal by any means, can be hard. 
In the three months that I have been writing this column, I have had 
some easy weeks and some hard weeks. Writing about the play for me 
was easy because it was something new and exciting, so everything 
left an impression and source of inspiration for a column, unlike the 
week I wrote about the history of Daylight Savings Time. This week, 
like the DST week, is one of the harder weeks because nothing new 
has happened since getting my license, and writing about APs and 
finals is so boring and generic. I could write a short story, be the 
new J.D. Salinger, which would be fitting because my English class 
is currently reading Catcher in the Rye, a book by Salinger which is 
actually composed and based off of short stories Salinger published. 
But then comes the obstacle of what my audience is interested in. 
Because I am on the Education and Youth page, I feel that writing 
in the style of stream of consciousness, however much I like it, may 
seem depressing and distasteful to my reading audience. It is times 
like these when I truly appreciate how much writers of television 
shows like The Office, Ed and Gilmore Girls work. To make a quirky, 
humorous and yet still appealing piece is not only tough but mind 
boggling. Throwing in little pop culture tidbits is fun to see if anyone 
understands them, but what if no one understands? I could easily 
quote or reference Harry Potter, Kicking and Screaming (Beantown!), 
and numerous other films and television shows, a task I am willing to 
take in the upcoming weeks. But for now I think I’m going to enjoy 
reading some of Salinger’s work for inspiration.