The California Department of Education released school progress scores today. And to no surprise, Nevada County schools are good schools. The state uses the Academic Performance Index scores to assign schools and school districts a score between 1-1000. California established and API score of 800 as the benchmark.

Nevada City Superintendent Roxanne Gilpatrick is pleased with Nevada City Schools.
Click here to listen to Roxanne Gilpatrick

As long as a school scores over 800 it is considered to have met its growth targets. Schools scoring less than 800 are required to show an increase over the previous year.

Though just under 800, Grass Valley Superintendent Eric Fredrickson is pleased with his middle school performance as the school had some additional challenges.
Click here to listen to Eric Fredrickson

In addition Grass Valley scores were effected by a reconfiguration and combining of schools. Almost all districts have unique circumstances that can effect test scores and are not factored into the equation.

In Nevada County, Chicago Park, Clear Creek, Nevada City Elementary, Pleasant Ridge, Pleasant Valley, and Union Hill School districts are all over 800. Grass Valley Elementary and Nevada Joint Union High School Districts are in the 790s. The remainder of the districts are in the mid to high 700s.
The state also released Adequate Yearly Progress scores or AYP. Federal accountability is based upon AYP which is a combination of API growth, and English and Math proficiency. AYP analysis is part of a later story.