Two Central Coast school districts fight achievement gap

Two local school districts are missing the mark when it comes to meeting the achievement needs of low-income and minority students, according to a report issued by an education advocacy group this week.

San Luis Coastal Unified and Lucia Mar Unified were the only two local school districts ranked in the study by the Oakland-based Education Trust-West.

Among the findings in the second annual report, called the 2011 California District Report Cards, is that both districts are nearly failing or are failing to close the achievement gap between Latino students and white students.

“Our Latino students and kids in poverty are in big trouble in this state,” said Eric Prater, San Luis Coastal superintendent, adding that improved data collection on student performance has made it possible to better identify the gaps.

“What this study really tells us, when combined with other research, is that we have work to do,” Prater said. “It is about accountability and making sure that all kids have the opportunity to excel — not just the select few to who it might come naturally or a bit easier.”

The group ranked 147 school districts statewide on their success in serving minority and low-income students based on performance, improvement, the size of the achievement gap between those students and white peers, and college readiness among students of color.

Most California districts received C and D grades, suggesting they need to place a stronger focus on improving outcomes for low-income and minority students, according to the organization. No district received an A grade.

However, twice as many districts improved their overall grade in 2011 — including Lucia Mar and San Luis Coastal — as compared with those that slid backward between 2010 and 2011.

In the 2011 report, San Luis Coastal was given an overall ranking of a D+, and Lucia Mar received a C. The previous year, San Luis Coastal received a D and Lucia Mar a C-.

The rankings were assigned using data from state Academic Performance Index scores, which annually assess students’ proficiency in English-language arts, math, science, history and social studies.

Students in San Luis Obispo County consistently score above the state average on the Academic Performance Index. Last year, 60 percent of students met the desired proficiency level, roughly equivalent to a B+.

However, local educational leaders have long noted that a significant gap continues to exist countywide between Hispanic students and their peers.

San Luis Coastal

San Luis Coastal falls low in the ranks of the recent report for its achievement gap between Latino and white students. It is ranked at 132 of the 142 schools, earning it a failing grade. The district serves 7,234 students at 15 schools.

The district has identified a five-year plan that it believes will close the performance gap. The plan is outlined in a set of 10 initiatives adopted by the school board in 2011 that are designed to improve test scores and focus on classrooms and their needs.

A specific emphasis is placed on creating measurable objectives that will improve achievement levels among low-income and minority students who are struggling.

“It doesn’t mean that we haven’t tried before, it means that we needed to rethink how do to this,” Prater said. “It is not about targeting any one population of kids, but about taking ownership of the problem and working as a collective group on the premise that all kids can make it.”

Lucia Mar

Lucia Mar, which has a significantly larger Latino population, ranked 84 out of 142 schools, earning it a D score for its achievement gap.

The South County district, with 17 schools, has about 10,500 students. About 16 percent, or 1,529 students, are English-language learners, said Ann Markarian, who heads up Lucia Mar’s English-language development and mentors teachers during their first two years with the district.

A year ago, Lucia Mar received a D grade for its achievement gap between Latino and white students and an F for college readiness among students of color. That put Markarian on “high alert” to take steps with teachers and administrators to address the gaps.

According to the 2010 report, only 6 percent of Latino students had completed the coursework required for admission to the University of California or California State University with a C or better.

In the 2011 report, the number increased to 21 percent.

The school district board in October 2010 approved a master plan for English learners. It includes 15 sections, such as parent involvement and special education services for English learners.

Markarian is confident the achievement gap will be narrowed through increased teacher training, including a training and evaluation program (called TAP) being implemented at five elementary schools and two middle schools.

“There is no question in my mind that we’re going to see that achievement gap narrow,” she said. “It really is the most exciting thing I’ve seen in my career.”

Reach AnnMarie Cornejo at 781-7939. Stay updated by following @a_cornejo on Twitter.

Report card for San Luis Coastal

Performance of black and Latino students: C

Performance of low-income students: C

Improvement among black and Latino students: D

Improvement among low-income students: D

Size of achievement gap between black and white students: n/a

Size of gap between Latinos and whites: F

College readiness among black and Latino students: C

Overall grade: D+

Report card for Lucia Mar

Performance of black and Latino students: B

Performance of low-income students: B

Improvement among black and Latino students: C

Improvement among low-income students: C

Size of achievement gap between black and white students: n/a

Size of gap between Latinos and whites: D

College readiness among black and Latino students: D

Overall grade: C

Source: Oakland-based Education Trust-West, http://reportcards.edtrustwest.org/

This story was originally published March 23, 2012 at 11:04 PM with the headline "Two Central Coast school districts fight achievement gap."