School API Scores Encouraging

Good news for California schools. State officials said Friday that 90 percent of the state´s schools scored higher on the Academic Performance Index this year. At the same time, nearly 80 percent of schools met their targets. The overall percentages improved significantly over 2002.

High schools and middle schools had the most dramatic increases.

Almost 70 percent of high schools met their targets, up from last year´s 29 percent. Middle schools jumped from from 38 percent last year to 69 percent.

The API measures schools to see how they´re achieving and is a cornerstone of Governor Gray Davis´ efforts to improve the state´s education system. It´s calculated using results from a combination of tests like high school exit exams and English Language Arts tests.