Los Alamitos Unified School District has been making academic strides. However, some say it is not enough.
The LAUSD Board of Education heard some impressive results at its December meeting.
Oak Middle School Principal Sally Neiser said a 19-point increase in Academic Performance Index scores from 873 to 892 since 2009 has been one of the highlights. Increases in all subgroup numbers, including double digit increases in both the Anglo and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups were also noted. Eighty-six percent of eighth-graders were either proficient or advanced in social studies and English/Language Arts.
Eighty-three percent were proficient or advanced in science as well, including 68-percent being advanced in science and 70 percent in social science.
Neiser remained unsatisfied.
“Our goal is to have 100-percent of students proficient or advanced at their grade level,” Neiser said. “Failure is not an option.”
To reach that goal, a number of student achievement support systems are in place at the school. A study skills curriculum and academic labs are used by sixth-graders to help them adjust to middle school classwork. For seventh and eighth-grade students who are struggling, academic intervention classes are offered both before and after school.
Moving from quarterly to every six week assessments has helped as well, Neiser said, by allowing more interaction with the parents. “Students can’t fall behind as much with the quicker assessments,” Neiser said.
Students have also joined the Unleash the Power of Pride, or UPP, program. UPP helps students find their spark in life by having speakers come in and discuss concepts such as personal image and responsibility and having a positive view of your personal future.
Each concept has a project that coincides with it. Wristbands, which are awarded at the end of the year, are earned for each concept completed which will be awarded at the end of the year.
In other news, the district honored Boeing Co. and representative Tamika Long for all the support provided to the district. Boeing provides a number of grants for things like professional development for staff members and student programs like Cognitively Guided Instruction, the Los Alamitos Educational Foundation and Space Camp, according to Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Dr. Sherry Kropp.
With the amount of state budget cuts in recent years, professional development is one of the things being considered for cutbacks. Board Clerk Meg Cutuli said with partners like Boeing working with the district, students and staff are the beneficiaries.
“We have a whole generation of students that can write thank you notes to Boeing for everything they’ve done,” Cutuli said.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the district Board Room.
