Test scores mostly 'good news' for Conejo Valley public schools
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

The numbers are in. It's another year of high test scores to help cement the Conejo Valley's reputation for top-notch education for kids learning everything from their ABCs to calculus.

The California Department of Education's annual results for academic performance were released last Thursday.

Richard Simpson, deputy superintendent of Conejo Valley Unified School District, said he's very pleased with the results, calling the fact that nine Conejo scores surpassed 900, "all good news."

The scores, between 200 and 1,000, are based on a compilation of tests students take in the spring. The goal is 800.

Ladera Elementary took the largest leap, increasing its score 40 points, to 883. Making the jump even sweeter is the fact that the school saw a 21-point drop the prior year.

"We had to work extra hard, so it's really great for us to have gone up that many points this year," said Dena Sellers, Ladera's principal.

Sellers attributed the improvement to her staff's focus on a type of teaching called differentiated instruction, which is common in most elementary schools in the Conejo Valley.

"We define all the kids' instructional levels and meet them at the level," Sellers said. "We see good growth teaching from where they are and taking them further. The kids who are struggling progress better and those who are at high levels progress better."

Overall, although the state's median score was up, California schools took a drop this year, with only about half meeting their targets as opposed to the two-thirds that did last year.

All schools in the Conejo district met their school-wide growth target, aside from Conejo and Glenwood elementaries. Only four schools in the district needed to improve their scores, as the vast majority already met the goal of 800 last year or earlier.

Conejo's six Title 1 schools had mixed results, some surprising. Acacia and Walnut scored above 800, while Manzanita and Park Oaks met their targets, bringing them to 736 and 783, respectively.

"It's phenomenal," said Simpson of Acacia's high score. "Especially with some of the challenges some of those youngsters over there are dealing with."

However, Conejo Elementary went down 27 points, the largest drop in the district, and Glenwood, which needed to increase its score by one point, fell one point instead.

Sally Calle, Glenwood's new principal, said that although there was a slight drop, the score showed consistency.

"The teachers took a look at it," Calle said. "But they were very interested in how their students did from the previous year. They were pleased with the progress of individual students. That was more meaningful to them than any overall scores."

Simpson explained what he thought to be the main issues in low or decreasing scores: subgroups such as English-language learners or special education students, who are still counted in the school's overall score.

"We had an increase in nonEnglish speakers and that has an effect on the scores," Simpson said. "You can almost bet a paycheck what's going to happen in a year like that. That's the greatest variable for us.

"The bottom line is getting hold of them. Ideally if the state would let us have them for three years before we test them, I think the scores would look a lot different. But they don't. You've got to test them right when they walk in the door."

Calle seconded Simpson, but pointed out the success many of her pupils have.

"We definitely do make progress--they do make progress," Calle said of her school's English-language learners. "I'm not trying to be negative. What they are facing is so much more than I ever did as a child. I'm so impressed with them."

The principal went on to talk strategy.

"We do what we do with any kids that need extra service," Calle said. "We have intervention programs in place. We are lucky to have a reading and math specialist who works with some of our kids who are struggling, and we provide extra instruction. We need to make sure all of those intervention programs are in place."

All four middle schools scored in the high 800s while the high schools came in at the low 800s, although all scores increased. Newbury's and Thousand Oaks' scores jumped eight points and Westlake went up 15.

"We are moving in the right direction," Simpson said. "We are always looking for continuous improvement. Every year it goes up and down, up and down, a little bit. It wiggles back and forth. It's when you step back and look to see that it's going in the right direction--that's what's important."