Manhattan Beach Unified ranks top 10 percent in state

by Andrea Ruse

Manhattan Beach schools ranked in the top ten percent of schools statewide, based on Academic Performance Index scores, according to a May 13 report issued by the California Department of Education. MBUSD also recorded high marks in a separate report comparing schools of similar demographics.

All seven of the city’s schools — five elementary schools, Manhattan Beach Middle School and Mira Costa High School — scored 10 on a scale of one to 10 in 2009 statewide rankings. A score of 10 places a school in the top 10 percent in the state.

Three schools — Pennekamp, Meadows and Pacific elementary schools — scored 10 in the more challenging comparison to 100 other schools in the state with similar socioeconomic profiles. All three schools also scored “10-10s” in 2008, along with Robinson Elementary, which dropped to 9 in the similar school ranking for 2009.

“It’s pretty unique, even among districts in our area,” said Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board member Bill Fournell. “You have to go to the top schools in L.A. County and the state to see comparable situations.”

The California Department of Education in September released “base” API scores for state schools, a report that assigns scores to schools and districts based on students’ performances on a battery of standardized tests.

“We pay very close attention to the API scores,” Fournell said. “It’s the gold standard measure for public schools. It allows us to drill down by grade level and find are there other places where we can improve?”

Pennekamp scored highest of all schools in the district last year, at 966, within an API score range of 200 to 1,000.

In other school rankings, Grand View Elementary School’s score increased since last year from 8 to 9 and Manhattan Beach Middle School’s score decreased from 9 to 8. Mira Costa High School’s ranking stayed the same.

The API is used to measure compliance with both state standards and federal No Child Left Behind Requirements. Both require that all schools reach 800 by 2014.

All MBUSD schools have exceeded these requirements and the district improved overall from 878 to 914. The high scores came despite sharp cuts to education funding in the last two years. This year, the district is preparing to make more cuts. It delivered 19 layoff notices to teachers in March. A $4.1 million donation from the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation that same month saved the district from having to increase class sizes.

“It’s really a matter of staying on top of it every year,” Fournell said. “It’s really a testament to the parents being involved and the staff and teachers monitoring programs.”

For more information, visit www.cde.ca.gov.com. ER

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