Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 27, 2016

7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 27, 2016 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

PASADENA UNIFIED RELEASES 2016 CAASPP SCORES

Pasadena, CA -- Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) students 
continue to make progress in the second year of the California 
Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The 
more rigorous tests are designed to gauge preparation for college 
and career. Results of the assessments were released August 24 by 
the California Department of Education (CDE). 

 “The results of the CAASPP assessments confirm that our 
district is headed in the right direction with our college and career 
programs and with the investments we are making to address -- at 
the root -- the long-term issues that have slowed achievement by 
some groups of students,” said Superintendent Brian McDonald. 
“We still have much work ahead to address the achievement gap.”

 CAASPP results are one measure of student progress and will 
help guide both teaching and learning in PUSD classrooms and 
schools. To have a greater impact on the achievement gap, PUSD 
recently created the position of Equity and Access Coordinator. 
Trudell Skinner now heads up this initiative which is designed to 
provide educators with the information and resources needed to 
close the gaps in achievement, expectations, and opportunities for 
students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

 Students were tested in English language arts/literacy and math 
in grades 3 through 8 and 11. Online tests are designed to measure 
depth of understanding, writing, research, and problem-solving 
skills. The tests can take up to four hours to complete and are 
administered over several days. Students in grades 5, 8 and 10 were 
also tested in science; results for these tests will be released later 
this fall.

 Student scores are measured in four achievement levels: standard 
exceeded, standard met, standard nearly met, and standard not 
met. Each student receives an overall score for English language 
arts/literacy and mathematics, expressed as a number between 
2000 and 3000.

 In PUSD, 42% of students exceeded or met standards in English 
Language Arts/Literacy, up 6% from last year; 31% of students 
exceeded or met standards in mathematics, up 2% from last year.

PUSD is deploying the Balanced Literacy initiative in elementary 
schools this fall, with classrooms getting more than 230,000 new 
books. Teachers have been trained to differentiate instruction 
so that students think critically and become fluent readers and 
writers. The balanced approach features engaging instruction in 
reading and writing in a variety of settings within the elementary 
classroom, including reading and writing workshops, reading 
aloud, phonics, and small group instruction.

 “As we prepare kids to leave our schools and graduate, we need to 
prepare them to be thinkers,” said Chief Academic Officer Shawn 
Bird. “Our ultimate goal is for all students to have access to the 
right books at the right time, and for them to be taught by highly 
trained teachers who will ensure that all students develop a love for 
reading along with the skills they need to be successful learners.”

 Before its full deployment this year, Balanced Literacy was 
piloted as smaller projects at select schools; similar projects are 
being piloted in math at select schools this year in anticipation of a 
larger math initiative.

 An increased focus on student support inside and outside the 
classroom is also designed to improve achievement. In addition, 
the district is deepening opportunities for authentic parent, staff, 
and stakeholder engagement to help prioritize systems that better 
position students to succeed.

 Student CAASPP results have been mailed to the parent/
guardian’s home address. Test results are not grade performance, 
but are a measure of student’s progress toward college readiness. 
Information on understanding the test results is available at 
testscoreguide.org/ca and in the State’s downloadable Parent 
Guide. Full test results are available at http://caaspp.cde.ca.gov/.

 PUSD will continue to review test results from the 2015-16 
CAASPP and will post updated reports and information along with 
the 2016-17 test dates at www.pusd.us.

 Stay connected to the Pasadena Unified School District! Visit 
us online at www.pusd.us; follow us on Twitter @PasadenaUnified, 
www.twitter.com/PasadenaUnified; like us on Facebook at www.
facebook.com/PasadenaUnifiedSchoolDistrict; subscribe to PUSD 
Today! at gopusd.com/today; subscribe to our YouTube channel 
at www.youtube.com/klrnpasadena. Or call the Communications 
Office, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (626) 396-3606.

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: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net

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: Ethan Williamson

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.org

Bethany Christian School

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

(626) 355-3527 

Principal: Dr. William Walner

website: www. bcslions.org

Clairbourn School

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172

FAX: 626-286-1528

E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809 

Co-Principals Nancy Lopez and Diane Kieffaber

info@foothilloaksacademy.org 

preschool@foothilloaksacademy.org

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255

Head of School: Jenny Janetzke

Email: jenny@frostig.org

The Gooden School

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

(626) 355-2410 

Interim Head of School, Merrily Dunlap 

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

La Salle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Principal Bro. Christopher Brady, FSC

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.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) 396-5880 Principal: Roberto Hernandez

website: http://phs.pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

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

Principal Joan Harabedian (626) 355-9028 

website: www.st-rita.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

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

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Esther Salinas

E-mail address: salinas.esther@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom

E-mail address: newsom.garrett@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) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

rcadia Unified School District

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net

Monrovia Unified School District

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016

(626) 471-2000 Website: www.monroviaschools.net

Duarte Unified School District

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010

(626)599-5000 Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us

ARCADIA UNIFIED TEST SCORES AMONG HIGHEST IN 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

ARCADIA-- Arcadia Unified 
students continue to score 
among the highest in Southern 
California, and far exceeded the 
state average, according to new 
statewide test results released by 
the California Department of 
Education on August 24, 2016. 
Arcadia scored 40% higher than 
the state average for math, and 
26% higher in English language 
arts/literacy (ELA). 

 The results for the rigorous 
California Assessment of Student 
Performance and Progress 
(CAASPP) showed that the 
statewide average for students 
meeting or exceeding the math 
standard was 37%. Arcadia 
Unified students met or exceeded 
the math standard at a rate of 
77%. The statewide average for 
ELA was higher at 49%, and once 
again Arcadia Unified students 
far surpassed the average at 77%. 
Arcadia Unified students also 
showed improvement in math 
scoring 2% higher than last year’s 
baseline test, while remaining 
steady at 77% in ELA. 

 “We are very pleased with the 
scores, and greatly appreciate 
the impressive work by our 
students, teachers, and we can’t 
forget our parents, as we have 
all taken on the new California 
Standards curriculum and these 
new standardized tests the past 
few years,” said Arcadia Unified 
School District Superintendent 
Dr. David Vannasdall. “These 
results are just one of many 
indicators that we will use to 
help ensure our students are 
receiving the highest quality and 
most well-rounded education 
possible.” 

Percentage of students who met 
or exceeded state standards 2016: 
California Average:

 

English 49% 

Math 37%

Arcadia Unified: 

English 77% 

Math 77% (2% increase from 
2015)

 The CAASPP, first introduced 
in 2014-2015, includes a number 
of different assessments, but 
the most widely administered 
are the Smarter Balanced 
Summative Assessments in math 
and English. These measure 
depth of understanding, writing, 
research and problem-solving 
skills. The online tests, based 
on California’s challenging 
academic standards, ask students 
to write clearly, think critically, 
and solve complex problems, 
just as they will need to do in 
college and on the job. Students 
in grades 3-8 and 11 were tested. 

 Last year’s scores of the new 
test were used as a baseline, 
with this year providing the first 
comparable data set. However, 
the California Department of 
Education has stressed that 
multiple years of data will be 
needed to get a more accurate 
assessment of gains and 
improvement. 

 Arcadia Unified School 
District parents should be 
receiving their individual 
student assessment scores in 
the mail soon if they haven’t 
already received them. For a 
more comprehensive analysis of 
the assessment scores, you can 
visit the California Department 
of Education website. 


ASSEMBLY-

MEMBER CHRIS 
HOLDEN OF THE 41ST 
DISTRICT INVITES 
HIGH SCHOOL 

SENIORS TO 

APPLY TO BE A 
YOUNG LEGISLATORS 
PROGRAM.

 The program gives partic-ipants 
the opportunity to gain valuable 
leadership experience, learn how 
ideas become laws and even visit the 
State Capitol.

 If you or someone you know 
is interested in the program, the 
deadline to apply is October 20 at 
5:00PM

 For more info contact Terrence 
Williams at Terrence.williams@asm.
ca.gov or call 626-351-1917

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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com