The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress results have been released by the California Department of Education and the William S. Hart Union High School District has scored better than the state and county average.

This is the first year for this new testing standard, which tested Hart School District students in grades seven, eight and 11 in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy. Student performance falls into one of four achievement levels: Standards Exceeded, Standards Met, Standards Nearly Met and Standards Not Met. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said because 2015 is the first year of the new tests and because they are substantially different from their predecessors, this year’s CAASPP results will serve as a baseline from which to measure future progress and should not be compared to results from the state’s previous assessments, the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program.

The percentage of Hart School District students who either met or exceeded the state’s standards in ELA/Literacy was 20 percent higher than the county average and 17.3 percent higher than the state. For example, 63 percent of Hart District 8th graders either met or exceeded ELA/Literacy standards, compared to 42 percent in Los Angeles County and 45 percent in the state.

The percentage of Hart School District students who either met or exceeded the state’s standards in Math was 17.3 percent higher than the county average and 14.7 percent higher than the state. For example, 50 percent of Hart District 8th graders either met or exceeded Math standards, compared to 30 percent in Los Angeles County and 33 percent in the state.

“We are extremely pleased with the performance of all of our students as measured by this first round of the new testing,” said Hart School District Superintendent Vicki Engbrecht. “More Hart District students performed at the highest levels than their peers both county-wide and throughout the State. This is a testament to the outstanding work of our teachers and staff as we meet the challenge of moving to the Common Core State Standards.”

The new standards and tests enjoy widespread support from leaders in K-12 and higher education who believe they can improve college readiness. California’s state universities and most community colleges use the eleventh grade results as an early signal of readiness to take college courses. In English language arts/literacy, 56 percent of the eleventh graders tested are ready or conditionally ready for college work, while in math 29 percent are ready or conditionally ready.

“The results show our starting point as a state, a window into where California students are in meeting tougher academic standards that emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical writing,” Torlakson said. “California’s new standards and tests are challenging for schools to teach and for students to learn, so I am encouraged that many students are at or near achievement standards. However, just as we expected, many students need to make more progress. Our job is to support students, teachers, and schools as they do.”

For more detailed information regarding CAASPP test results, go to http://caaspp.cde.ca.gov.