The Willow Glen Resident

SJ Unified students get better all the time

State Performance Report shows test scores above average at local high schools

By Linda Murray

The "Point of View" opinions of Deborah Taylor-Hollis printed in the Aug. 19 issue of The Willow Glen Resident berated the San Jose Unified School District for "Average Joe" test scores of English-speaking students in the Stanford 9 standardized test released this summer. Because the tone of the piece does a great disservice to the students, parents, teachers and other leaders of San Jose Unified, it is necessary to set the record straight. San Jose Unified students consistently perform above state and national averages, and they are getting better all the time.

In the High School Performance Report issued by the state of California this week, on every indicator of student achievement, San Jose Unified high school students performed considerably higher than the California average, and their improvement over the past two years has been considerably greater. Our students' SAT scores are also well above the national average and have increased by over 10 points in both math and reading within the last year. More than 95 percent of our students complete four years of high school, as compared to 87 percent statewide and 90 percent countrywide. The percentage of students completing the course requirements for the University of California/California State University systems is already above the state average and has increased 12 percentage points over the past two years. This spring, our board of trustees approved increased high school graduation requirements that will result in all SJUSD graduates completing the UC/CSU required courses, beginning with this year's freshman class.

The same holds true for the Stanford 9 test. In almost every grade and subject area tested, English-speaking students in San Jose Unified outperformed students nationally and statewide. That level of performance was achieved in our large urban school district of 32,000 students, where more than 44 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged.

Statistically we know that a family's economic level correlates highly with student achievement. The College Board in 1997 reported a direct correlation between parent income and SAT scores. Yet, despite the challenge of a large percentage of economically disadvantaged students, the San Jose Unified School District students outperform the majority of students nationally and statewide on nearly all academic measures. Is that a significant achievement? Yes! Our students achieve because of administrators and the involvement of our community. Working with a dedicated and forward-looking board of trustees who never fail to put our children first, we have set clear expectations that student achievement is our primary goal.

Yes, the San Jose Unified School District is proud of our schools. We welcome the accountability of statewide standardized tests and the challenge to achieve at ever-higher levels. Community and parent involvement are crucial to our efforts, and the involvement of the parents and community in Willow Glen has always been exemplary. I want you to know how important that is as we welcome our students back to school on Sept. 1.

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