OUSD Students Meet & Exceed Standards
on 2017 State Online Tests

Orange, CA – September 29, 2017 - Orange Unified School District students continue to exceed the statewide percentage of students testing at standard or exceeding standard in English language arts and mathematics on the California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance (CAASPP).  This is the third year of the computer adaptive assessment which uses California’s challenging academic standards to ask students to write clearly, think critically, solve complex problems, and complete performance tasks just as they will need to do in college and 21st century careers. In Orange USD, fifty-four percent of students met or exceeded standard in English language arts, which surpasses the state percentage by five percent. In addition, forty-two percent of OUSD students met or exceeded standards in math, which is higher than the state percentage by four percent, according to newly released scores. 

The District’s scores from the spring of 2017 CAASPP administration remained steady, with most grade levels scoring within a point or two from the previous year’s assessment. Orange USD fourth grade students showed the greatest gain with an increase of four percent in English language arts and three percent in mathematics.

At the school level, Orange USD continues to celebrate growth. At Orange High School, students exceeded the statewide percentage by showing a growth of twelve percent in English language arts. The Orange High School reclassified-fluent English proficient students showed a twenty-four percent gain in English Language Arts. In math, Yorba Middle School students demonstrated a ten percent gain from the prior year. West Orange and Palmyra Elementary School students excelled with an eight percent gain in exceeded and met standard scores in English language arts, while Panorama Elementary School showed an eight percent gain in students exceeding and meeting standards in mathematics.

The CAASPP is a computer-based test used to assess students in grades three through eight and grade eleven. This assessment provides a personalized experience for students, because portions of the test are adaptive based on students’ answers.  Student scores are categorized into 4 achievement levels – standard exceeded, standard met, standard nearly met, and standards not met.

“While the rate of growth on these assessments reflects the monumental task of shifting to more challenging instructional standards based on real-world applications, as well as the transition to computer-based exams, we are pleased that Orange County students continue to outpace state and regional averages,” Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Al Mijares said.

When compared to the 25 largest California K-12 Unified Districts with over 26,000 students tested and approximately 50% or more low Income students, Orange USD students rank in the top 20% (5/25) in percent of students meeting and exceeding standards in Language Arts and Mathematics. 

 “The 21st Century online assessments provide a snapshot of student achievement and enable educators to improve on preparing students for college and careers.  Orange USD schools are committed to continuous academic improvement through teacher collaboration and ensuring equitable outcomes for all students,” explains Interim Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen, PhD.

The CAASPP scores are a part of the California School Dashboard, the new accountability system that replaced the Academic Performance Index. These test scores will be used in conjunction with suspension rates, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism figures, college and career readiness data, and other local performance indicators to determine if schools and districts are making enough progress in support of student success.