A few days ago, I showed that the old measure of schools, the API, was extremely generous to elementary schools. The new Core Index has (sort of) replaced the API. There are several key differences:
- It uses the new SBAC test instead of the old CST.
- It uses a lot of comparative scores, to attempt to compare like with like.
- It has lots of other factors beside test scores, like english learner progress, suspensions and attendance.
The design is fairly complex, but still boils it down to one score for all schools, regardless of level. So it begs the question: is this measure going to be more fair across grade levels than the API was:
It is still a bit inequitable between the grades, but less so. Elementary schools had a median 57, middle school a median of 60 and high school median 64. However, the boxes (which represent the middle 50%) do align much better.
The most interesting thing is that the Core Index is now more generous to high schools than to elementary schools, the exact opposite of the API.
This has many possible implications. When the API of the high schools was low 10 years ago, it started a “small-learning community” revolution, and the high schools of LAUSD were broken up in a frantic series of specializing schools. Now LA has (by my count) 8 schools of social justice, 3 schools of global studies and who knows how many STEM schools.
So if Core scores of elementary schools appear comparatively low, what intervention will be prescribed? Scores matter because they inform public policy, and it looks like elementary schools might be the next focus.