Rising Test Scores Qualify 548 Schools for Bonuses

Although many school officials in Los Angeles County privately express reservations about the state Department of Education’s cash-incentive program to improve scores on the California Assessment Program tests, they publicly laud the reward system--especially if their school won.

This year, 134 county high schools will receive bonus money, ranging from $219 at Rosemead High School in the El Monte school district to $168,800 at Bell Gardens High School in the Montebello district.

Statewide, 548 high schools, or 48%, raised their scores in reading, writing, mathematics and spelling to qualify for the incentive money. Other factors determining the amount of the awards include the number of students who took the test and how well they performed in specific categories. A total of $14.6 million will be distributed this year, the second year of the state-funded program.

“I couldn’t begin to tell you how excited we were without carrying on like a maniac,” said Bell Gardens Principal Frances Riley. The Montebello school earned the second-highest amount in the state, following Roosevelt High School in Fresno, which won $192,000.

Bell Gardens did not qualify for a cash award last year, Riley said, so the staff and students doubled their efforts to prepare this year’s seniors to take the test and hoped their hard work would pay off.

“All I was worrying about was a couple thousand dollars to pay for annuals for the seniors,” Riley said. “When we found out how much we won, we could not believe it. I thought for sure some error had been made.”

Most of the winning schools have yet to decide how they will spend their earnings. Under the state guidelines, each school must establish a committee of students, teachers and parents to determine how the money will be used.

Last year, many schools used the funds to beautify their campus or to purchase new computers and other supplies. Others also tried to use a portion of the cash to help seniors with their graduation expenses.

According to state guidelines, a school qualifies for the incentive award if its overall score rises and if at least 93% of the seniors took the exam. In Los Angeles County, as in the state as a whole, scores generally rose this year, except in reading which dipped slightly.

Another big winner was Mark Keppel High School in the Alhambra school district, which will receive $59,964. Last year, the school won $67,000 for raising its scores, but Principal Rudy Chavez said, “Our scores are as good or better than last year. We’re very proud of it.”

1985-86 TEST SCORES FOR 12TH GRADERS

State, County Averages

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 62.2 62.6 69.4 67.4 84-85 62.9 63.2 69.7 68.3 85-86 62.7 63.4 70.1 68.7

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.4 59.8 68.0 64.3 84-85 60.1 60.5 68.3 65.3 85-86 58.6 59.8 68.0 65.0

District and School Averages

Alhambra

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.1 59.0 68.2 65.8 84-85 58.0 59.8 68.0 66.3 85-86 59.6 61.0 69.8 67.8

ALHAMBRA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.6 59.8 69.4 66.4 84-85 60.7 63.4 70.6 69.1 85-86 61.1 62.0 71.9 68.1

KEPPEL HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 53.3 54.3 67.3 63.5 84-85 56.1 57.2 67.1 67.1 85-86 57.2 58.7 68.7 69.2

SAN GABRIEL HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 62.3 64.2 66.4 68.2 84-85 56.7 57.8 65.8 62.7 85-86 60.3 61.8 68.6 66.3

Arcadia Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 65.4 67.1 72.8 75.0 84-85 67.2 67.3 71.8 76.5 85-86 67.7 68.8 74.1 75.8

ARCADIA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 65.4 67.1 72.8 75.0 84-85 67.2 67.3 71.8 76.5 85-86 67.7 68.8 74.1 75.8

Azusa Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.5 56.6 66.1 61.8 84-85 58.9 57.1 66.7 62.6 85-86 56.8 55.6 64.7 62.2

AZUSA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 60.1 59.0 67.1 61.5 84-85 59.3 58.3 66.8 61.5 85-86 54.6 54.8 65.1 59.5

GLADSTONE HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.9 54.1 65.1 62.0 84-85 58.4 55.5 66.5 63.9 85-86 58.9 56.3 64.7 64.7

Baldwin Park Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.3 61.3 66.3 67.9 84-85 60.8 65.3 68.4 69.5 85-86 61.6 65.2 70.8 71.3

BALDWIN PARK HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.2 60.4 64.3 68.6 84-85 62.9 68.0 71.5 70.4 85-86 61.3 65.2 70.7 70.6

SIERRA VISTA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.4 62.7 69.4 66.8 84-85 57.6 61.2 63.8 68.0 85-86 61.9 65.3 70.9 72.5

Bassett Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 55.1 53.6 66.5 58.7 84-85 51.8 51.4 64.0 57.1 85-86 53.2 51.1 65.1 56.7

BASSETT HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 55.1 53.6 66.5 58.7 84-85 51.8 51.4 64.0 57.1 85-86 53.2 51.1 65.1 56.7

Bonita Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 61.2 62.1 70.3 68.1 84-85 63.7 65.9 70.6 71.1 85-86 65.0 65.5 70.0 69.3

BONITA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 62.3 64.0 71.8 68.0 84-85 64.4 66.2 70.8 70.7 85-86 64.2 65.9 71.4 68.8

SAN DIMAS HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.9 60.0 68.7 68.3 84-85 62.7 65.7 70.3 71.5 85-86 65.8 65.1 68.3 69.8

Charter Oak Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 64.9 63.1 71.2 66.7 84-85 64.4 62.5 71.7 65.9 85-86 62.8 62.5 67.5 66.4

(Royal Oak closed in 1985 but is included in district averages for 1984 and 1985)

CHARTER OAK HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 62.6 60.7 69.0 65.5 84-85 62.9 60.1 72.9 65.0 85-86 62.7 62.4 67.5 66.4

Claremont Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 68.1 69.2 75.5 74.5 84-85 67.8 69.7 73.6 74.7 85-86 66.2 69.8 73.5 75.2

CLAREMONT HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 68.1 69.2 75.5 74.5 84-85 67.8 69.7 73.6 74.7 85-86 66.2 69.8 73.5 75.2

Covina Valley Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 63.9 65.1 70.0 69.9 84-85 63.1 64.3 69.5 69.3 85-86 63.5 65.6 71.2 69.3

COVINA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 65.9 64.2 71.4 68.4 84-85 64.7 64.5 70.7 69.3 85-86 64.0 64.7 72.5 69.7

NORTHVIEW HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 61.7 63.4 66.6 68.0 84-85 61.4 65.2 68.1 70.5 85-86 60.9 64.7 69.8 68.9

SOUTH HILLS HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 64.8 67.6 72.7 73.1 84-85 63.4 63.1 69.8 68.1 85-86 66.0 67.4 71.7 69.5

Duarte Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 57.4 55.6 66.9 60.6 84-85 60.0 57.6 67.3 63.3 85-86 57.9 57.8 64.6 59.8

DUARTE HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 57.4 55.6 66.9 60.6 84-85 60.0 57.6 67.3 63.3 85-86 57.9 57.8 64.6 59.8

El Monte Union

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 55.7 58.4 68.7 63.4 84-85 57.5 59.7 67.9 64.0 85-86 57.3 58.7 67.4 63.4

ARROYO HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.0 61.8 71.5 66.4 84-85 59.0 60.8 69.9 65.2 85-86 58.8 61.3 67.8 66.0

EL MONTE HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 53.0 53.6 65.0 59.5 84-85 54.4 56.6 66.9 62.9 85-86 53.0 55.0 64.6 60.1

MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 50.9 56.0 65.7 63.3 84-85 55.7 57.8 65.7 61.4 85-86 55.7 56.2 65.5 60.8

ROSEMEAD HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.1 60.7 71.0 63.7 84-85 60.3 63.3 68.4 65.7 85-86 60.8 61.5 71.3 66.0

Glendora Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 66.5 67.6 70.6 72.9 84-85 65.1 66.6 70.4 71.7 85-86 68.4 67.4 70.9 75.8

GLENDORA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 66.5 67.6 70.6 72.9 84-85 65.1 66.6 70.4 71.7 85-86 68.4 67.4 70.9 75.8

Hacienda-La Puente

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.7 59.7 67.1 64.5 84-85 61.0 61.0 69.7 66.0 85-86 63.1 63.9 70.9 69.6

LA PUENTE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 54.1 52.7 63.9 56.6 84-85 56.2 55.5 69.1 58.5 85-86 58.1 57.7 65.9 60.6

LOS ALTOS

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 63.1 63.8 70.5 68.8 84-85 64.6 65.9 71.7 70.8 85-86 66.6 67.0 72.0 73.9

WILSON

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 60.1 61.6 66.4 68.3 84-85 62.5 62.6 70.2 69.2 85-86 64.6 66.8 74.0 73.2

WORKMAN

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.0 57.2 66.0 59.4 84-85 57.6 57.0 66.5 61.0 85-86 58.6 60.2 68.3 64.6

Pasadena Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.5 58.5 67.8 63.2 84-85 59.6 61.2 67.9 64.9 85-86 57.8 59.1 67.9 63.8

BLAIR HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.4 58.7 68.9 65.5 84-85 59.1 60.8 70.7 65.3 85-86 55.7 57.1 66.4 62.5

MARSHALL FUNDAMENTAL

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 57.8 58.9 69.4 65.3 84-85 62.8 63.0 65.6 68.3 85-86 60.1 63.4 71.2 67.2

MUIR HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 57.5 58.6 67.7 63.3 84-85 60.7 61.3 68.2 64.7 85-86 58.3 57.9 67.9 63.7

PASADENA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.1 57.5 66.1 60.8 84-85 56.8 60.3 67.1 63.3 85-86 57.4 59.3 67.2 63.3

Pomona Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 55.3 55.1 65.4 58.4 84-85 55.0 55.7 66.5 59.8 85-86 55.9 57.9 67.1 61.0

GANESHA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 59.1 58.4 67.3 60.6 84-85 57.4 58.9 65.6 60.8 85-86 59.7 61.6 69.5 63.6

GAREY HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 49.3 49.0 62.9 56.0 84-85 52.0 50.8 67.1 59.9 85-86 52.7 53.3 64.0 58.2

POMONA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 57.7 58.3 66.0 58.6 84-85 55.1 56.5 67.0 58.4 85-86 55.0 58.6 67.9 61.1

Monrovia Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.2 58.2 64.7 59.6 84-85 61.5 62.6 67.5 64.2 85-86 61.0 64.6 68.6 64.3

MONROVIA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 58.2 58.2 64.7 59.6 84-85 61.5 62.6 67.5 64.2 85-86 61.0 64.6 68.6 64.3

Rowland Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 57.6 58.1 66.1 62.8 84-85 63.1 62.8 68.4 68.1 85-86 61.9 62.0 68.2 68.3

NOGALES HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 54.5 55.8 63.9 58.7 84-85 59.7 59.9 66.1 62.9 85-86 60.3 61.1 68.8 65.6

ROWLAND HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 60.9 60.6 68.3 67.1 84-85 66.1 65.5 70.5 72.8 85-86 63.3 62.9 67.7 70.7

San Marino Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 70.1 72.9 73.0 82.2 84-85 70.1 74.2 75.8 80.9 85-86 67.1 71.1 70.4 79.9

SAN MARINO HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 70.1 72.9 73.0 82.2 84-85 70.1 74.2 75.8 80.9 85-86 67.1 71.1 70.4 79.9

South Pasadena Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 65.8 67.1 73.6 73.5 84-85 66.4 68.4 74.8 75.8 85-86 69.0 68.8 76.7 75.7

SOUTH PASADENA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 65.8 67.1 73.6 73.5 84-85 66.4 68.4 74.8 75.8 85-86 69.0 68.8 76.7 75.7

Temple City Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 64.1 62.1 70.0 67.4 84-85 66.0 64.4 70.0 70.4 85-86 66.9 67.8 70.9 71.4

TEMPLE CITY HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 64.1 62.1 70.0 67.4 84-85 66.0 64.4 70.0 70.4 85-86 66.9 67.8 70.9 71.4

Walnut Valley Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 65.3 63.3 70.9 68.3 84-85 64.0 64.0 69.7 68.4 85-86 67.6 67.2 73.3 72.6

DIAMOND BAR HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 66.5 66.2 74.8 69.0 84-85 62.6 63.8 70.1 67.9 85-86 67.8 66.9 74.0 72.4

WALNUT HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 64.0 60.2 66.7 67.5 84-85 65.3 64.4 69.3 69.0 85-86 66.8 67.7 72.2 73.0

West Covina Unified

DISTRICT AVERAGE

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 61.1 62.0 74.2 67.9 84-85 60.4 60.8 70.1 66.0 85-86 58.2 60.7 69.8 65.8

EDGEWOOD

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 61.8 61.9 71.8 68.1 84-85 61.4 59.3 68.5 66.6 85-86 56.5 59.3 68.1 64.2

WEST COVINA HIGH

Reading Writing Spelling Math 83-84 60.5 62.0 76.6 67.7 84-85 59.4 62.5 72.0 65.3 85-86 60.1 62.0 71.6 67.4

How to Read the Scores

The results of the standardized California Assessment Program test are reported below for Westside high schools. Additional scores for schools in other areas may be found in today’s Metro section.

This is how to read the scores:

Schools are listed alphabetically by district. The scores indicate the percentage of correct answers and show progress over three years. Dashes indicate that tests were not given or that scores were not available. Continuation high schools have not been included.

In general, a fluctuation of 10 points or more is considered statistically significant. A rise or fall of 9 points or less is not.

Third-, sixth- and eighth-grade students took the test this spring, and their scores will be reported in the fall.