header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
April 26
1906 - Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in The Philippines [story]
Bobby Batugo


The California Department of Education released the 2010/11 STAR test results today and the data showed that Hart District students demonstrated slight increases from the previous year and continue to perform consistently higher than their peers county-wide. It is these test scores that will be used to calculate the District’s, and each school’s, Academic Performance Index (API) that will be released in early September.

“Even when our numbers stay the same, they are impressive, especially compared to county and state scores,” noted David LeBarron, director of curriculum and assessment for the Hart District. The tests, taken last spring by 18,741 students, measure student knowledge of the state’s academic content standards – the specific content that students are expected to master at each grade level and course.

Student scores on the STAR tests fall into one of five levels, ranging from Far Below Basic, Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. The goal is to increase the percentage of student scoring Proficient and above, while decreasing the percentage of students who score Below Basic. LeBarron noted that the API calculation places more emphasis on the number of students who move up to Basic, rather than the number who move from Basic to Proficient or Advnaced.

In English/Language arts, the percentage of students achieving at the Proficient or Advanced levels increased at three grade levels: 8th, 10th and 11th. Performance remained the same at the 7th grade, and decreased by two percent at the 9th grade level. The percentage of Hart District students scoring at the Proficient or Advanced levels surpassed Los Angeles County levels at all grade levels by more than 15% at the junior highs and more than 20% at the high schools.

In mathematics, both junior and senior high school students continue to significantly outperform their county peers in all grade levels and classes even though the number of students scoring Proficient or Advanced dipped slightly in those classes. One factor in the decrease is the Hart District’s goal to increase the number of students successfully completing Algebra 1 by the end of their 8th grade or 9th grade year. An outcome of this goal is that students who would have excelled in a less rigorous math courses took Algebra I, where it was more difficult for them to achieve proficient-level scores.

“Our goal is not to get higher scores on the California Standard Tests (CST),” LeBarron explained. “Our goal is to be sure that our students are being challenged to their highest ability level.”

In Science, students take the test which reflects the subject they will finish that school year. The number of students scoring Proficient or Advanced increased in every subject and grade level except Chemistry, where it fell slightly.

LeBarron also pointed out that the performance of students who were English learners increased from the previous year. The percentage of English learner students scoring Proficient or Advanced on their English Language arts tests increased at three grade levels and fell by only one percent at two others. He also noted the number of English learner students scoring Below Basic decreased at all grade levels except 7th grade, where it was unchanged from the previous year.

“Hart District students do very well on the STAR tests because we place a strong focus on ensuring that our students are taught the State’s academic content standards, which is what the tests assess,” LeBarron continued. “Every one of our schools has a professional development plan that focuses on research-based programs that improve student learning.”

Results of the STAR testing program are crucial in calculating the State’s Academic Performance Index (API). “API is a growth model,” LeBarron explained. “Schools will be rewarded for growing, regardless of where they start.”

STAR test results are also an important piece of the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report. AYP requires that a certain percentage of students be proficient in both mathematics and English. At the junior high level that percentage is determined by student performance on STAR tests and at the high schools by student performance on the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).

The importance of STAR test results goes well beyond the state and federal “report cards” however. Every school in the Hart District will be looking at its test data to assess its performance and to help determine the areas for growth for content, grade levels, and subgroups.

“The true purpose of a test is to give us information we can use,” LeBarron continued. “We need to analyze the results and determine where we did well and were we can do better. Every school is doing that.”

He noted that the STAR scores are only one piece of the assessment picture, but they are the piece that is the largest for the public. “We take it very seriously,” he concluded. “Our students’ performance on the state assessments is extremely influential in the design of our instructional programs.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


LOCAL SCHOOL LINKS
Related Content
LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
Friday, Apr 25, 2025
The Saugus Union School District Asset Management Committee will hold a public hearing on recommendations for the now closed Santa Clarita Elementary School on Wednesday, April 30
Thursday, Apr 24, 2025
A special meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Saturday, April 26, beginning at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Apr 23, 2025
The Music Center has announced 14 rising stars from across Southern California as the Grand Prize winners in its 37th Annual Spotlight program. Elina Ghosh, 15,  a 10th-grade student from West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch has been named a Grand Prize winner in Non-Classical Voice.
Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station 40th Annual All Schools Dance will be held Friday, May 2, 7:30-11 p.m. at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Thursday, Apr 17, 2025
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced Nicholas Patey, Golden Valley High School math teacher, has been selected as the 2025/26 Hart District Teacher of the Year.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1906 - Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in The Philippines [story]
Bobby Batugo
The Saugus Union School District Asset Management Committee will hold a public hearing on recommendations for the now closed Santa Clarita Elementary School on Wednesday, April 30
April 30: SUSD Public Hearing on Options for Santa Clarita Elementary
The Santa Clarita City Council will meet in a study session at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29 at City Hall in the Carl Boyer Room. This is a joint meeting with the Planning Commission, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission and the Arts Commission.
April 29: City Council Holds Budget Study Session on 2025-26 Budget
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating one case of measles in a Los Angeles County resident who travelled recently from Texas.
Public Health Confirms Measles Case in Los Angeles County
The Santa Clarita Artists Association will feature an artist's demo by Kathleen Scoggin at the Monday, May 19 monthly meeting.
May 19: SCAA Meeting Features Kathleen Scoggin Artist Demo
Supervisor Kathryn Barger recently joined the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley to celebrate the unveiling of a $50,000 van funded by her office that will take local youth to educational field trips, sports leagues, summer programs and college tours.
Barger Funds New Van for SCV Boys & Girls Club
The Sierra Hillbillies Square and Round Dance Club invites you to the Sunday, May 4 "May The Fourth Be With You" themed Square and Round Dance, 2-5 p.m.
May 4: ‘May The Fourth Be With You’ at Monthly Sierra Hillbillies Dance
The city of Santa Clarita has announced the release of the fifth episode of "Santa Clarita Voices," the city’s official podcast, that highlights the stories, experiences and conversations from city leaders and unique members of the community.
Episode Five: ‘Santa Clarita Voices’ Features Recreation, Community Services
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has celebrated its centennial with the announcement of the 2025 class of Guggenheim Fellows. Joining the foundation’s 100th class of 198 “distinguished individuals” working across 53 disciplines are California Institute of the Arts alumni and faculty.
CalArtians Named to 100th Class of Guggenheim Fellows
The city of Santa Clarita presents its latest art exhibition, “Childhood Memories,” on view at the Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market St., Newhall, CA 91321, now through Monday, July 7.
‘Childhood Memories’ Exhibit On View at Newhall Community Center
A "Celebration of Life" memorial service for Diana Cusumano, who died Friday, April 18, will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 29 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 23233 Lyons Ave., Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
May 29: Celebration of Life Honors Diana Cusumano
California Institute of the Arts will host a Artisan Pop-up Market, 2-7 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at the CalArts Main Gallery, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA, 91355.
May 3: CalArts Artisan Pop-Up Market
The Master's University beach volleyball team got a pair of 4-1 wins Thursday, April 24 on the opening day of the NAIA Beach Volleyball Championships in Greeneville, Tenn.
Sandy ‘Stangs open Nationals with Two Wins
The Master's University baseball team needed to win one of the games in its final doubleheader of the regular season to punch a ticket to the GSAC Championship Tournament. The Mustangs got just that on Wednesday, April 23.
TMU Splits Redhawks Series, Qualifies for Post-Season
1906 - Bercaw General Store opens in Surrey (Saugus) [story]
Bercaw Store
The city of Santa Clarita has announced the exercise staircase at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, will be closed on Saturday, April 26, from 6-10 a.m. for a special event.
April 26: Central Park Exercise Staircase Closed Briefly for Special Event
A special meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Saturday, April 26, beginning at 1 p.m.
April 26: Hart District Governing Board Special Meeting
In many Hispanic households, children aren’t just part of the family, they are its heart. “Día de los Niños” reflects this deep cultural value by honoring the joy, curiosity and wonder of childhood.
Bill Miranda | A New Chapter Begins with Día de los Niños
California Institute of the Arts and the CHANEL Culture Fund has announced the CHANEL Center for Artists and Technology at CalArts, a visionary initiative that positions artists at the forefront of shaping the evolving technologies that define the world.
CalArts, CHANEL Culture Fund Announce CHANEL Center for Artists, Technology
Racquel Wilder Realty and Stress Free Mortgage will sponsor a free "May the Fourth Be With You" paper shredding community event, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at the Congregation Beth Shalom parking lot.
May 4: May the Fourth Be With You Paper Shredding Event
The Santa Clarita Veteran Services Collaborative has announced its second annual "Bringing it Home" fundraiser, an exclusive wine and hors d'oeuvres event hosted by Salt Creek Grille will be held Thursday, June 5, 6-8 p.m.
June 5: Second Annual Bringing It Home Fundraiser for SCV Vets
The Canyon Country Community Center will host "Celebrate," an events series that celebrates cultures, customs and culinary wonders on Friday, May 9, from 6-9 p.m. The May Celebrate event will feature the country of Ireland.
May 9: Santa Clarita Celebrate Series Features Ireland
College of the Canyons baseball took the opener of its three-game series vs. West L.A. College on Tuesday, April 22 behind a lineup that notched 13 hits in a dominant 15-2 road victory.
Canyons Hits the Road for 15-2 Win at West L.A.
College of the Canyons men's golf cruised to its fifth straight conference victory while seeing all five scoring players finish in the top six of the individual standings during its strong showing at Soule Park Golf Course on Monday, April 21.
Canyons Wins Fifth Straight WSC Event, Five Finish in Top Six
SCVNews.com