Raising Aragon’s scores to the STARs

After dropping 10 points in 2007, Aragon High School increased its Academic Performance Index (API) score by 18 points from last year. The number of sophomores who obtain a proficient score of 380 or higher on the California High School Exit Exam, and the STAR (Standardized Testing and Recording) testing scores determines the Academic Performance Index. Currently, Aragon’s API is 840, second only to Mills High School in the San Mateo Union High School District.

“[That 840] tells colleges [that our] students have an aggressive curriculum that meets standards,” says Assistant Principal Joe Mahood.

“Community members have pride and prestige that their “students work hard and the teachers teach well,” says Assistant Principal Jim Coe.

Administration and faculty alike have enforced the importance of the considerably long test by rewarding students.

“We work hard, but we play hard [too],” says Coe. Raffles are typically held for students participating in STAR tests, with the drawings being held at lunch on each testing day.

“I won some movie tickets [in a raffle]” says junior Jethro Mercado excitedly.

Reasons for the drop in API several years ago vary from person to person. “[Back in 2007,] we did not have the encouragement that we do now,” says Scholarship and Financial Aid Advisor Nancy Walsh about the 10-point loss that occured in that year.

“I do not think [the drop in 2007] has anything to do with the teachers,” Walsh says. Aragon got out of that low scoring phase, and increased its score each year since.

In fact, Aragon was the only school in the district for which all student subgroups met their target.

The increase in API cannot be directly traced to students trying harder or doing anything differently on the tests as students who were interviewed reported that they did little different over the years.

But most students groaned and grumbled when reminded of the monotonous tests that occupy a week in the spring. Though they also find the tests to generally be easy, junior Krista Neill says “[The] tests [have] been the same [level of difficulty].”

Although the API score has risen over the past three years to exceed 800, there is a chance that Aragon could possibly not make the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) if a subgroup does not score well.

AYP acts as a standard for the schools and districts to make sure more and more students make the proficient level. If a numerically significant subgroup within Aragon does not score well enough, that alone could send us under the AYP. A drop in the score would put our school “one step closer to [Program Improvement],” says Mahood.

Not making these goals two years in a row results in placement into Program Improvement. If the API dropped in 2008, Aragon would have easily started escape PI and professional development. The entire faculty at Aragon would have been replaced if the school did not meet AYP in six years. Fortunately, raising 18 points means Aragon is nowhere near such an event.

Summing up students’ opinions, senior Evelyn Vilchez says “[it is] just another test I have to take, [so] I will try my best.”