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In the News
San Jose Mercury News (CA)
September 1, 2006
Section: Front
Edition: Morning Final
Page: 1A
Memo:RELATED STORY, PAGE 1A, 8B
PAINFUL PLUNGE TIED TO WALKOUT
203-POINT DROP: STUDENT BOYCOTT BRUISES CHARTER'S REPUTATION
DANA HULL, Mercury News
When California released its Academic Performance Index scores Thursday, the data contained a bizarre red flag. After years of steady gains, Downtown College Prep, the ambitious charter high school in San Jose, saw its API score tumble from 731 to 528 -- a flabbergasting, 203-point drop that was the second-largest in the state.
But there's an unusual reason. Last May, when DCP students were scheduled to take the standardized tests, students orchestrated a three-day walkout to protest the fact that four popular teachers were not being asked back.
Some students boycotted the tests altogether, while others randomly filled out answer bubbles or drew hearts and flowers on their multiple-choice sheets. They channeled their anger about losing beloved teachers into a coordinated effort to drop the test scores -- and it worked.
Individual students are not affected by API scores: They do not show up on high school transcripts or affect whether a student graduates from high school.
But the backslide is embarrassing: An API score is like a report card for an entire school, and DCP has made a name for itself because of its success preparing San Jose's Latino students to be the first in their families to go to college.
On Thursday, a group of student leaders who were active in last spring's demonstrations had a frank sit-down with Jennifer Andaluz, DCP's founder and executive director, and other top school officials. California's system of ranking schools was explained in detail, and reality began to sink in.
'We wanted our teachers back and we didn't get them,' said senior Alondra Juarez, 17, a leading organizer of the protests. 'But seeing the score also upsets me.'
Many students pledged to help make sure that DCP's reputation isn't tarnished. They offered to write letters of explanation to influential donors, encourage younger students to take the tests seriously, and prove skeptics wrong by doing better on the tests.
DCP is a relatively young school that, as the first charter school in Santa Clara County, is often in the spotlight.
'Last year we did a form of civil disobedience, and we showed our voice by not taking the test,' said sophomore Diego Gomez, 16. 'But this year we can make our voice louder by doing even better.'
Downtown College Prep, founded by two former Gunderson High School teachers, is chartered by the San Jose Unified School District.
'This was an anomaly. DCP's scores are going to pop back up,' said San Jose Unified Superintendent Don Iglesias. 'We teach our kids about non-violent action, and during the protest the kids were peaceful, they were organized, they were articulate, and their actions were strategic and intentional. Unfortunately, this hurts a school that the kids care deeply about.'
DCP will not face any immediate sanctions because of the dramatic drop in its API score -- it would have to have lousy or stagnant scores for multiple years before facing sanctions or a possible state takeover.
But the drop is a stark contrast to last year's results, when DCP celebrated a 90-point jump with two giant pinatas.
'This is certainly the biggest setback we've ever faced,' said Andaluz, who said the bogus test results make it impossible for DCP to use the testing data to retool teaching practices, tweak curriculum and focus extra help on students who are struggling.
A third of DCP's budget comes from private donations that allow the school to maintain small class sizes and offer intense guidance about applying for college. This year, the goal is to raise $1.3 million.
'There might be some people who say, 'I can put my dollars to better use,' Andaluz said in the meeting with students.
DCP students stressed that the school's scores would rocket back up into the 700s, if not higher.
'This drop is bad because we aren't showing people how capable we are as students,' said senior Misty Gomez, 17. 'But just like it dropped, we can bring it back up.'
Illustration:Chart
CHART: MERCURY NEWS
How two schools fared
While San Jose's Olinder Elementary School raised its API scores almost 80 points, Downtown College Prep scores plunged more than 200 points because students staged a walkout during testing last May.
2005 2006
Downtown College Prep 731 528
Olinder Elementary School 576 660
Source: CA. Dept. of Education
Copyright (c) 2006 San Jose Mercury News
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DOWNTOWN COLLEGE PREPARATORY
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1460 The Alameda | San Jose, CA 95126 | 408-271-1730
© 2007 Downtown College Prep. All rights reserved |
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