Steady Improvement in School District, County, State

San Mateo County students scored higher than the state average on standardized testing, and Belmont area students overall bettered their own 2010 performance.

The 2011 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) results showed steady improvement across the state. The results, released this week by the California Department of Education, show mean scores, but also rank student performance in categories from advanced to far below basic.

Sixty-three percent of county students ranked at a proficient or advanced level in language arts, compared to the state's 54 percent They also trumped the statewide averages in math and science.

"This is certainly no small accomplishment, particularly given the ongoing fiscal realities facing schools and districts that have resulted in reductions in staffing and programs," Gary Waddell, deputy superintendent of instructional services for the San Mateo County Office of Education, said in a statement.

In the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, Central Elementary topped the district language arts scores with 68 percent of fifth graders ranking at the advanced level compared to 61 percent of fifth graders districtwide.

In math, 37 percent of Central fifth graders ranked as advanced, and in science, 82 percent. The scores reveal a trend in the district, which encompasses seven elementary schools and one middle school and comprises students from Belmont, Redwood Shores, portions of Redwood City, San Carlos, and San Mateo.

Students tended to score well in language arts, take a dip in mathematical skills, and perform robustly in science.

For instance, in the Cipriani fifth grade class, 59 percent scored at the advanced level in language arts, 36 percent in math and 67 percent in science.

As a whole, Belmont scores have pushed steadily upward, mirroring the statewide trend.

Last year, 48 percent of the Carlmont High School 10th grade class ranked at an advanced level in language arts. This year, the number leapt to 56. In 2010, 67 students performed at an advanced or proficient level in science, but by this year, 73 scored as well.

Some 4.7 million students took the tests this year. California educators saw the highest scores since STAR testing began in 2003, with 54 percent scoring proficient or higher in language arts and 50 percent doing so in math.

“The significant and sustained improvement 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,” said state superintendent of schools Tom Torlakson in a statement.

However, Torlakson lamented the achievement gap that persists for African American, Latino, English learning, and low-income students.

“We have more work to do to make sure every student receives the world-class education he or she deserves,” he said. Waddell said narrowing the gap remains a critical measure of the success of San Mateo County schools.

In Belmont-Redwood Shores schools, 90 percent of African American sixth graders achieved scores of proficient or advanced in language arts, and 64 percent in math. Some 57 percent of Latino sixth graders ranked proficient or higher in language arts, and 47 percent performed at a proficient or advanced level in math.

At Carlmont, 54 percent of Latino ninth graders scored at acceptable to advanced levels in algebra and 6 percent in general math. Fifty percent of ninth graders and 28 percent of 11th graders did as well in language arts.