School board to recognize schools' test scores

COSTA MESA — The school board on Tuesday plans to recognize the schools with the most-improved test scores.

Back Bay High, Early College High, Sonora Elementary, Ensign Intermediate and Costa Mesa Middle/High schools will be honored for achieving the largest increase on the 2011 Academic Performance Index (API) statewide tests.

API scores, which range from 200 to 1,000, measure academic performance levels and growth for individual schools and for districts.

Scores are based on the results of the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program and the California High School Exit Examination.

Back Bay jumped 99 points this year to from 563 to 662 — the largest increase in the district. The alternative school still had the lowest score in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Early College grew to 911 from 882 the previous year — a 29-point increase.

Sonora and Ensign both raised its scores by 28 points.

Sonora rose from 806 last year to 834 while Ensign increased from 820 to 848.

Costa Mesa rounded out the top five with a 27-point increase from a score of 747 to 774 this year.

In other action, trustees are expected to vote on signing a resolution urging legislators to repeal parts of Assembly Bill 114.

A.B. 114 withholds districts' rights to lay off teachers next year and removes the requirement for districts to prove that they can meet their financial obligations for the next three years.

Trustee Martha Fluor at a July board meeting urged the community to write legislators to repeal those sections.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the District Education Center, 2985 A Bear St., Costa Mesa.

To see the full agenda, go to http://www.nmusd.us.

britney.barnes@latimes.com

Twitter: britneyjbarnes