10-4-00
Last year when the first Academic Performance Index (API) rating for schools was released by the state, Yosemite High School was targeted to increase its score by five points in 2000. The results were released earlier this week and YHS far exceeded its targeted growth rate with an increase of 49 points.
"That is a phenomenal increase," said a proud YHS Principal Steve Raupp. "It’s one of the highest growth rates in the tri-county area of Madera, Mariposa and Fresno. Obviously we are all extremely proud of our students and staff. Everyone has worked hard to bring our students to this level."
Yosemite High’s API in 1999 was 695; this year it is 744. The API range, statewide, is 200-1000, with the overall target goal of 800 for all schools.
Yosemite Joint Union High School District Superintendent Bill McCabe is also delighted with the results. "This is fantastic," he said. "This speaks well of the students and staff and the district’s commitment to raise the academic bar and to be accountable. I am very proud."
The API is based on the Stanford 9, or STAR, tests that have been administered to students throughout the state the past three years. Last year, 89 percent of the YHS students took the test, this year 100 percent were tested.
YHS Stanford 9 scores increased this year in every subject and in every grade.
Information on 1999-2000 Similar Schools Growth Ranks will be available in December.
YHS has posted the second highest API among several high schools in the area; Bullard High in Fresno posted an API of 756 this year, which was a 7-point growth rate from the year before. Other comparative API scores are: Buchanan, 733; Clovis High, 703; Clovis West, 740; Mariposa High, 706 and Sierra High, 730.
Additional information on the API will be available at a later date, such as YHS’s rank with similar schools. The information was released October 4.