Best Ranking Schools ... At What Cost?

Standardized testing has long been a source of controversy. But stakes are high when it comes to our school’s API (Academic Performance Index) scoring. API is the chief measure of school performance, which is calculated using each school’s CST (California Standard Tests) results. The goal is a score of 800 or better.

Sure - don’t we want our children in what would be considered a high performing school of 800+? Wouldn’t you want to be a leader of a school scoring 800+?  

Last week, I had some questions on an assembly at my child’s middle school … a 45+ slide PowerPoint presentation apparently about the importance of the upcoming CST.

First of all, 45 slides? In my line of work you call that “death by PowerPoint”.

But the question’s I had were on the ethnic focus. 

Early in the school year, the principal had made it a point to share over the loud speaker how the various ‘subgroups’ had done on CST: Asians at the top. Hispanic and African Americans at the bottom. Teachers had encouraged students to write the principal with their concerns about the announcement and how it made them feel.

So my conversation with the principal went something like this …

Me: Why is it important for your student body to learn how ethnic subgroups in their school ranked in test scores?

Principal: It is public knowledge.

Me: Yes, but why do you feel, as a principal, this will benefit students and my child? Is this best practice?

Principal: I’m a distinguished school.   

Me: So, you think it’s because of this information?

Principal: Why don’t you explain to me how API & AYP scores are calculated?

(I’ll be honest - what I was thinking next was … ‘Look, !#@#%%%’  - but what I said was)

Me: I’m sorry you feel you have to be defensive. I’m a parent and I have a fair question. Why do you feel this information is important for our children? What is your ultimate goal for this presentation?

Principal: Groups should know how they rank so they can do better.

Ultimately the slides were pulled, but this horrid uneasiness about what is going on at my child’s school lingers. Put aside the fact that this principal is blinded by his API ranking and his abrasive and apparent lack of etiquette when chatting with a parent. But here is someone in leadership responsible for a school full of early adolescents going through one of the most difficult times of growing up: physically, emotionally and socially.

Yet, regardless of a student’s individual score, this principal apparently decided that to encourage students to do better it was best to reinforce their ethnic subgroups. In my opinion, essentially pitting them against each other to apparently put pressure on under performing groups.

Wow.

But now beyond the discussion of whether these tests are significant, true or necessary – now as a parent I have to be cognizant of the schools “eye on the prize” and the means they will use to get it. 

I’m happy to share that the district was responsive to my concerns and the ethnic focus was cut for now, yet I’m still waiting to hear if these tactics are thought to be ‘best practices’ for our schools and best for our kids.

To learn more about API try : The API: 10 Things Parents Should Know 

PC