Six out of eight elementary schools in Willow Glen communities experienced a positive gain on the 2002­03 Academic Performance Index, the statewide accountability system for public education.

The six schools were Booksin, Canoas, River Glen, Willow Glen and Galarza elementary schools and Hacienda magnet. Only Schallenberger and Gardner elementary schools fell short of the growth targets.

Schallenberger Elementary School Principal Margie Graves said that although their API growth target wasn't met, she is encouraged by the gains in the Hispanic or Latino subgroup on the report. Last year, the school's overall API score was 733 and this year, the score dropped 12 points to 729.

"We have been working with students in spelling, writing and goal setting," she says. "And we've been working to get the kids reading at or above grade level."

She says that over the school year, teachers have also added new learning strategies to their curriculum, and they hope to see the positive effects from these additions as soon as next year.

On the other side of the API scores is River Glen, which leapt ahead by a stunning 63 points, from 693 to 756.

River Glen Elementary Principal Cecilia Barrie knew the students were progressing well but was still surprised at the big increase.

"Now we are a little worried how we will be able to sustain this growth," she says.

Barrie says the teachers worked hard addressing the testing standards and motivating students to do well.

The school even held a campaign, encouraging students to be well by asking students to be well rested and offering intervention classes for students who were struggling with the testing.

"Our goal was 703 in 2003, and we far exceeded that," Barrie says.

Booksin and Hacienda elementary schools continued to easily score more than 800 on the API and exceeded their previous year's score, with Booksin scoring 881 and Hacienda reaching 834.

Both elementary schools are included in the approximately 26 percent of elementary schools that were at or above the state's performance target of 800.

Meanwhile, Willow Glen Elementary School scored 709, rising 26 points from the previous API test. And, the white subgroup scored 816, which is above the statewide performance target of 800 in 2002.

"When we received the results, I called everyone into the office and we had cheesecake to celebrate," Willow Glen Elementary School Principal Dayle D'Anna says.

D'Anna says that the school doesn't just focus on teaching to the test, but instead teaches to the test's standards.

"We are using the results to fine-tune what we need to work on," she says.

The API growth report reflects each individual school's achievement on the Standardized Testing and Reporting program (STAR) and the California High School Exit Exam.

API was established through the Public Schools Accountability Act in 1999. The numeric index for each school's test results range from a low of 200 to a high of 1000.

To meet the API growth target, a school must meet its 5 percent schoolwide target, and each numerically significant student subgroup at the school must improve at least 80 percent of the schoolwide target.

For more information about the 2002­2003 API growth report, visit http://api.cde.ca.gov/reports.html.