Selected Stories About African American Achievement
May 2008
African American students in some California schools are doing very well on the API
In 2007, 45 elementary, 18 middle, and 16 high schools received African American Growth API (Academic Performance Index) scores that were well above average: at least 1.5 standard deviations above the mean for their respective school levels. These schools are listed in the following downloadable tables:
(Note: All data are current as of February 1, 2008.)
Principal interviews
To enrich our understanding of the issues related to supporting African American student achievement in
California, EdSource interviewed principals from a number of elementary, middle, and high schools that received African American Growth Academic Performance Index (API) scores that were substantially above average in 2007.
These schools represented a broad range of types, sizes, locations, and demographic configurations. The principals discussed the practices and policies that, from their perspectives, contribute to the higher than average academic outcomes among African American students in their schools.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Ralph Bunche Elementary School (K–5)
Compton Unified, Los Angeles County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 417
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 100%
- Percent African American Students: 51%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 846
- African American Growth API (2007): 836
Interview:
Synee Pearson, Principal; Mikara Davis, Former Principal
Grass Valley Elementary School
Oakland Unified, Alameda County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 221
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 46%
-
Percent African American Students: 92%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 793
-
African American Growth API (2007): 795
Interview:
Rosella Jackson, Principal
Signal Hill Elementary School (K–5)
Long Beach Unified, Los Angeles County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 756
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 88%
-
Percent African American Students: 18%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 848
-
African American Growth API (2007): 823
Interview:
Karen Williams, Principal
Victoriano Elementary School (K–5)
Val Verde Unified, Riverside County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 510
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 58%
- Percent African American Students: 28%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 901
- African American Growth API (2007): 882
Interview:
Rick Aleksak, Principal;
Chuck Holland, Former Principal
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Rudecinda Sepulveda Dodson Middle School (6–8)
Los Angeles Unified, Los Angeles County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 1,925
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 56%
-
Percent African American Students: 12%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 753
-
African American Growth API (2007): 809
Interview:
Travis Collier, Principal
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School (6–8)
Oceanside Unified, San Diego County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 1,812
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 52%
-
Percent African American Students: 10%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 774
-
African American Growth API (2007): 772
Interview:
Bob Rowe, Principal
KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy (5–8), a Charter School
San Francisco Unified, San Francisco County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 257
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 78%
-
Percent African American Students: 40%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 866
-
African American Growth API (2007): 834
Interview:
Lydia Glassie, Principal
HIGH SCHOOLS
City Honors High School (9–12)
Inglewood Unified, Los Angeles County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 370
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 42%
- Percent African American Students: 61%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 794
- African American Growth API (2007): 775
Interview:
Thelma Brown, Principal
Clovis West High School (9–12)
Clovis Unified School District, Fresno County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 2,690
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 18%
- Percent African American Students: 5%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 833
- African American Growth API (2007): 810
Interview:
Ben Drati, Principal;
Jeanne Hatfield, Former Principal
Rancho Cucamonga High School (9–12)
Chaffey Joint Union High, San Bernardino County
- 2006–07 Enrollment: 2,794
- Percent Free/Reduced-price Meals: 19%
-
Percent African American Students: 15%
- Schoolwide Growth API (2007): 781
-
African American Growth API (2007): 744
Interview:
Todd Haag, Principal
(Note: All data are current as of February 1, 2008.)
For more information, please also see the following:
