East Bay Schools Show Gains in 2011 STAR Test Results

East Bay students scored higher than the state average in English and math, according to standardized test results released Monday.

Some 4.7 million students took the 2011 Standardized Testing and Reporting assessment known as STAR. Fifty-four percent of them scored proficient or better in English-language arts and 50 percent were proficient or better in math, according to the California Department of Education.

In Contra Costa County, where 128,000 students were tested, 61 percent scored at least proficient in English and 55 percent proficient or better in math. Alameda County scores were nearly the same: 60 percent were proficient or better in language and 55 percent in math among the 162,410 tested.

Students in second through 11th grades are tested in several subjects and ranked by the following levels: far below basic, below basic, basic, proficient or advanced.

Mount Diablo Unified School District

In the Mount Diablo district (which includes students from Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Clayton), 56 percent of the ninth graders were proficient and advanced in English-language arts; 49 percent for 10th graders; and 49 percent for 11th graders.

In California Standard Tests for Mathematics, 75 percent of fifth graders were proficient and advanced; 50 percent of sixth graders; and 48 percent of seventh graders.

Concord High

51 percent of Concord High ninth graders scored at or above proficient in the English-Language Arts section; 10th graders scored 42 percent and 11th graders scored 56 percent at the same level.

Click here to see all results for Concord High.

Ygnacio Valley High

YV students scored below the state average, with 35 percent of its ninth graders scoring at or above proficient in the English-Language Arts section, 10th graders scoring 34 percent and 11th graders at 32 percent. 

**Click this link to see detailed results for all Mount Diablo Unified School District schools. 

Highest scores since 2003

Both state and East Bay scores are the highest since the program launched in 2003. That first year, just 35 percent of California students ranked proficient in math and English.

“The significant and sustained improvements we’ve seen for nine consecutive years prove how hard teachers, school employees, administrators and parents are working to help students achieve despite budget cuts that have affected our schools,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement. “Their heroic teamwork is paying off for California.”

Racial, economic achievement gap

Though overall test scores increased, an achievement gap remains.

Black and Latino students continue to lag behind their white and Asian peers. Students from poor families or those for whom English is a second language also struggle to keep up, numbers show.

STAR scores are used to come up with schools' Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress report. Dropout and exit exam rates also factor into the API and AYP assessments.

Dropout rates were released Friday; those for the California High School Exit Exam are due out next week and the AYP and API scores will be released on Aug. 31.