Like a fresh set of eyes, a California education group evaluated last year’s student scores in statewide testing in a non-traditional way recently and concluded that five NUSD schools are having extraordinary impact: Heron, Natomas Park Elementary, Leroy Greene Academy, and two independent charters – Westlake and NP3.
Growth was calculated by measuring the progress of the same set of students from one year to the next, using a mathematical model to adjust for unique circumstances and demographic factors. That perspective is quite different from simple year-to-year comparisons at a particular grade level.
The goal of the 2019 Academic Growth Awards by CORE Districts, a coalition of California urban school districts, was to identify schools that are achieving academic gains faster than similar schools statewide and, thus, campuses where teachers and programs are having the most positive impact.
Heron and LGA were honored for gains last year both in Math and English Language Arts in California’s academic testing program, known as CAASPP. Natomas Park, NP3 and Westlake were recognized for English Language Arts. Students currently are engaged in CAASPP testing, so NUSD has a chance to make it two in a row in 2019-20!
