Source: Coredistricts.org Index File (http://coredistricts.org/core-index/download-index-file/)
Span schools are alternative style schools to the traditional grade breakup of schools (K-5, 6-8 and 9-12). In the California Core Districts Database (which includes Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco, Long Beach and Santa Ana) there are three types of span schools: There are fifteen K-8 schools, eleven K-12 schools and seven 6-12 schools (Some are 7-12). The median academic domain score is a score out of 60 measuring the performance of the schools on statewide tests. The median school climate score is a score out of 40 measuring attendance, suspension rates and reclassifications of English language learners.
The data shows that their scores on the Index are slightly higher in both academics and school climate. In this analysis, it should be noted that the sample size of each group is relatively low, compared to the 750 non-span schools in Core Districts. Still, the differences are so small as to be almost negligible.
There are many possible reasons for this difference. First, there could be a bias in the location and make-up of span schools – perhaps span schools are located in wealthier areas, or attract parents with higher educated parents. Another possible explanation is that the longer timeline of students at the school helps the school prepare the students academically and creates a deeper culture.
Finally, there is one more explanation: grade-level disparities. There are certain grades (sixth grade, for example, has a low scoring test across the state) which drag down academic scores. Schools that have wider grade spans can diffuse the difficulty of those scores by adding other grades that have higher performance on tests (eleventh grade, for example, which has a generally high scoring test).