Oak View is an inspiration

They’re not messing around at Oak View Elementary School -- and the

numbers prove it.

Oak View improved its score by 80 points since last year on the

annual Academic Performance Index, which came out a couple weeks ago.

This leap was the largest in the district and most impressive

because 90% of the students at the predominantly Latino school have a

major handicap -- they are still learning English.

The index, released annually by the California Department of

Education, is the cornerstone of the 1999 Public Schools

Accountability Act, which presses schools to meet state standards.

Something has certainly pressed these students, teachers and

administrators to excel.

On a scale of 200 to 1,000, the state asks that every school

strive for a score of 800. Growth targets are set for any school that

scores under 800. Oak view exceeded its target.

“Our staff now is the best it’s ever been,” Oak View Principal

Karen Catabijan said. “We’ve cut out all the holiday stuff and

focused on academics. We don’t water anything down and stick to state

standards, and our parents appreciate it. They love seeing their kids

succeed.”

This back-to-basics approach is clearly working and should not

only be commended, but replicated in other schools that are not at a

score of 800.

But it was a joyous day for more than just this one Huntington

Beach school. Fourteen of the city’s 29 schools had scores exceeding

the state target score of 800.

Even those schools that did not reach 800 at least improved their

scores and met their growth targets.

Several schools made the leap from below 800 to above this year,

including Star View and Moffett elementary schools.

Circle View Elementary School, which was awarded the prestigious

National Blue Ribbon School award this year, again earned the highest

score in the city.

Huntington Beach schools continue to strive and excel. It is one

of the many things that make the community strong, and they should be

commended for jobs well done.