Advanced Placement Passage Rates Indicate Students Developing Strong Foundations in STEM and the Arts
SOUTH PASADENA, Calif. (October 11, 2024) – Recently, the California Department of Education released the 2023-2024 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) results for students in grades three through eight and grade eleven. Since the year the state began CAASPP testing (2014-2015), South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) has experienced a five percent gain in the number of students meeting and exceeding English Language Arts (ELA) standards (82 percent total) and a four percent gain in the number of students meeting and exceeding Math standards (79 percent total). The College Board also issued Advanced Placement (AP) test data to schools and districts at the same time. Ninety-three percent of South Pasadena High School’s (SPHS) AP students earned a passing score of 3+.
“The CAASPP results indicate that our students have achieved a level of proficiency commensurate with our expectations as a high performing school district,” said South Pasadena Unified School District’s Associate Superintendent of Instructional Services Christiane Gervais. “Students, with the help of teachers, staff, and parents, work hard to master standards-based academic content, and their efforts are recognized with these excellent scores. SPUSD continues to be one of the top unified school districts in California.”
Because CAASPP tests are given statewide, they provide an opportunity to measure the skills of all students against the same academic standards in the same way, and the results provide information schools can use to improve teaching and learning. Administered online, the tests are computer-adaptive, allowing more precise measurement of individual skills. Student results in CAST (science) testing, which is given as part of the CAASPP testing, showed growth for all grade levels.
“We are so proud of our students’ success,” said Superintendent Geoff Yantz. “Test results are only one measure of how much our students are learning. SPUSD is committed to a cycle of continuous improvement to help all of our students reach their full potential.”
This summer, parents and guardians received individual student score reports through the Aeries Parent Portal. The reports detail an overall score for each subject and information for how each child performed in different skill areas associated with English language arts/literacy and mathematics. The score report presents two years of data when it is available, which allows parents and guardians to view a child’s progress over time.
For high school students, AP test participation rates and passage rates have increased in the past five years. During the 2023-2024 school year, 57 additional students and 116 more exams were taken compared to the previous year. Passage rates have trended upward from an 87 percent passage rate in 2018-2019 to a 93 percent passage rate in 2023-2024. Especially notable in the reports is the students’ 100% passage rate for AP 2D Art and Design, a new art course that SPHS added in the last few years. Additionally, 100% of students taking exams passed Calculus BC and Chemistry, and 96% passed Computer Science reflecting the strong math and science foundation provides to students who enter competitive STEM fields in college.
More information about CAASPP testing including videos and guides to understanding the score reports and assessments may be found here: http://bit.ly/CAASPPtesting. Additional information about AP scores may be found here: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores.
About South Pasadena Unified School District
Established in 1886, the South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) serves approximately 4,700 students within five schools including three elementary schools, one middle school and one comprehensive high school in South Pasadena, California. Nestled in the West San Gabriel Valley, SPUSD has earned a reputation for providing high quality public education, attracting families who value challenging academic programs and outstanding teachers. Consistently recognized for superior performance, SPUSD students earn honors at the local, state and national level. The District draws vital support from parents and community members through the South Pasadena Educational Foundation, local PTAs, and booster clubs.
For more information, contact: South Pasadena Unified School District, Office of the Superintendent at [email protected].