Magnet school's students again attract spotlight

Magnet school's students again attract spotlight
By Melissa Murphy
Article Launched: 05/22/2008

Buckingham Charter Magnet High School once again ranks as one of the best schools in the state.

The school scored at the top on two counts - compared to all other schools and compared to schools with similar socioeconomic characteristics.

New test score results released Wednesday rank each school on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. Those rankings show that the percentage of California schools meeting or exceeding the state's performance targets rose in all three levels, elementary, middle school and high school.

For the second year, Buckingham received a 10 in both categories.

Buckingham reached above the Academic Performance Index goal of 800 for the 2007 state testing with a score of 829.

"It's a pretty amazing feat," said Bob Hampton, principal at Buckingham. "We have great teachers, students and very supportive parents."

Hampton said one of the reasons for the high scores is how the school handles standardized testing.

"We try to make it very effective and efficient," he said. "We're an academic high school that provides a unique opportunity to students. We try to create an environment they (the students) feel comfortable in."

Buckingham's academic popularity has pushed its enrollment to the limit of 425 students, creating a waiting list for next fall.

Other schools in Solano County ranked high on the test results.

In Vacaville, Alamo Elementary School ranked at 9 when compared to similar schools in the state, but received a rank of 8 compared to all other schools. Cooper and Orchard Elementary both received a rank of 9 compared to all other schools in the state, but dropped when compared to similar schools. Cooper ranked at 7 while Orchard ranked at 8.

Vacaville's Jepson and Vaca Pena Middle schools each received a 6 in each category.

According to the office of State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell, the 2007 Base API, which is calculated using the results from spring 2007 state testing, shows the percentage of elementary schools at or above the statewide performance target of 800 is 36.7 percent, up from 34.6 percent in 2006.

The middle schools performance target was 24.6 percent, up from 23.9 percent and the high schools' target was at 14.5 percent, up from 13.6 percent.

"I'm pleased that California schools continue to rise to the challenge of high expectations," said O'Connell in a press release. "Our Academic Performance Index pushes schools to make improvements each year. ... This reflects significant gains in student achievement in our schools."

The state tests provide the basis for the state's Base Academic Performance Index, which runs from 200 to 1,000. The state wants schools to score at 800 or above.

The 2007 Base API report also provides information on growth targets that schools and all student subgroups are expected to meet. The 2007 Base API will be compared to the 2008 Growth API, which will be released in August.

To view the complete list of rankings go to www.cde.ca.gov/api.