CST Results -- My School

This chart is the progress our school has made over the past few years in educating primarily Latino and Asian immigrants toward proficiency. I started in 2002-2003 school year, so the 2003 data represents the first data set I contributed to. This is strong growth, progress you can put a face to. Last year, for the first time, at least 1 out of every 4 students were prepared to enter high school on either a graduation or college track.

Obviously, 1 in 4 or in the case of Language Arts, 1 in 3, is still terrible. It still represents a massive failure in K-8 English Language Learner education, and it still means that we're putting an enormous amount of pressure on high schools to provide everything from college preparatory education to basic skills remediation. I recognize that, and in the process of celebrating these successes, I in no way lose sight of the fact we've barely begun.

At the same time, we are taking broad steps. Our school was the only middle school recognized for making substantial growth in the past two years. In 2004 we were the highest improving school in the entire county, and although the API data has not been formally released, I'm guessing we have earned that distinction again. In 2002 we were the second lowest school in the District; when the data is formally released, we may be the highest scoring middle school in the District. Worst to first -- last year's graduating eight grades shouted it during commencement ceremonies.

Ten days to go and I'm:

1) Preparing to make a DVD about our school to both a. send to families in lieu of a crappy letter and b. act as a recruiting tool to compete with the shoddy KIPP school that has been installed on our campus like a cancerous tumor.