Most District high schools saw a decrease in the number of students who met or exceeded state standards following the release of the CAASPP last October. Simultaneously, M-A’s overall test scores improved, with scores for socioeconomically disadvantaged, or SED students seeing the largest growth in the District.
The CAASPP, or California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress results revealed that in the 2023-24 school year, 72.01% of M-A students met or exceeded state standards for English Language Arts, and 54.27% of students did so for math.
Different types of standardized tests offer insight into trends in overall academic performance. The class of 2025 was the first class to take a detracked freshman and sophomore-year course load. Although M-A’s AP scores increased recently, these exams only reflect the academic performance of students taking AP classes. CAASPP tests, on the other hand, are taken by all juniors. These scores indicate how well M-A is serving its students, especially those who need more academic support.
M-A has generally hovered around District averages for students meeting or exceeding CAASPP ELA and math standards in the past. Likewise, rates for SED students more or less followed District averages.
Compared to other schools in the District, M-A’s CAASPP scores improved the most last year. There was a 4.86% increase in students who met or exceeded state standards for ELA and a 5.74% increase in math between the 2022–23 test and this year.
M-A’s SED students’ CAASPP scores also showed the greatest improvement in the District. Compared to last year, the percentage of SED students who met or exceeded standards increased by 5.86% and 6.19% for ELA and math, respectively.
In the 2023-24 school year, M-A administration made efforts to ensure students were not only present to take the CAASPP test but also that students took the test seriously. Principal Karl Losekoot expressed that he wants the atmosphere of the school to feel relaxed during the state test.
“We try to create some incentive for students to come in on time and make an effort,” he said. Last year, students who took the CAASPP were entered into a raffle for prom tickets and Leadership hosted a barbecue for students. As M-A’s juniors are preparing to take the 2024-25 CAASPP this week, administration is offering similar incentives with raffles for prizes like Beats headphones.
“It’s not just the incentive of offering a donut or prom ticket. We want to show that this test is important to us and that students should not only take it seriously but also not feel stressed out about it,” Losekoot said.
“We are communicating that this is what you and the state of California are doing, and we want you to be at the standard like everybody else,” he said.
