ESL test scores increase

Newport-Mesa Unified students learning English as a second language are improving, standardized test scores released Wednesday show.

The school district had a 4% increase in students who tested at “advanced” or “early advanced” levels — a total of 38% of students who took the test, according to test results. The increase matches the state’s increase shown in the results released by the California Department of Education.

Students statewide came in just behind Newport-Mesa with 36% of its students testing in the two highest categories. Newport-Mesa had 4,937 test takers, an increase of about 300 students from the previous year.

The goal for the school district is to eventually reclassify English-learner students and incorporate them as English-speaking students, officials said. Testing into the advanced or early advanced level is a big first step.

“We are quite ecstatic today — believe me,” said Karen Kendall, director of the English-learner program at Newport-Mesa. “The kids are saying goodbye to the lower levels and saying hello to the higher ones.”

In 2007 the district reclassified 311 students and in 2008 274. Despite the decrease, Kendall said both numbers are positive.

“That doesn’t mean that achievement is going down,” she said. “The fact we are pretty much in the same neighborhood is what is important.”

The California English Language Development Test is taken in four parts in September and October. English-learners are tested on their ability to listen, speak, read and write.

Rea Elementary, the school in the district with the most test takers, substantially increased its number with 10% of takers scoring in the “advanced” level versus the previous year’s 5%.

The school also had an 8% increase in the amount of students scoring in the “early advanced” level, despite the school adding 40 test-takers this year. The school decreased its numbers for all levels below the top two — intermediate, early intermediate and beginning.

“Data is a way to get to a name and a face,” Kendall said. “Just saying we have a 4% increase doesn’t sound smashingly impressive, but in fifth grade we went from 44% in early advancement and advancement to 51%. That represents 262 students. We are validated. We feel all of our hard work is really paying off for our students.”

The school district’s numbers mirrored that of Orange County’s on almost every level.

State Supt. Jack O’Connell praised the increases in scores, but also warned the achievement gap is still lingering between English-learners and native English speaking students.

“If our state is to maintain a competitive edge in the global economy, we must all work together to close the achievement gap,” O’Connell said in a written statement.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.