Academic Excellence

Schools Closing Achievement Gaps by 50 Percent or More:

Many Schools Showed at Least 10 Percent Growth on State Tests

The Long Beach Unified School District has earneda reputation as one of America’s top school sys-tems, winning many awards as a national and inter-national model of excellence. The school districtcontinually strives to improve by carefully analyzingstudent performance data and allocating resourceswhere they are most needed. Part of that improve-ment process is the Local Control and AccountabilityPlan, which includes several goals aimed at improv-ing student achievement. Examples of such goalsinclude:

• Students will make academic progress on the Common Core State Standards.• Students will demonstrate readiness for college and careers.• Students will participate and excel in rigorous coursework, including Advanced Placement.

Test Scores Rise, All Groups Improve

Results from the newest state tests show significantgains in student achievement in local schools. Allstudent subgroups improved here, including allracial/ethnic subgroups, students learning Englishas their second language, special education stu-dents, and homeless and foster children.

Academic ExcellenceMany schools saw double-digit gains in the percentage ofstudents meeting standards, and several schools sawachievement gaps close by 50 percent or more, com-pared to their prior year’s achievement for lowest andhighest performing subgroups. The state SBAC tests(Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) measureperformance on the Common Core State Standards.

Closing the Achievement Gap

10% or More Growth on SBAC

• Addams Elementary School

• Alvarado Elementary School

• Burbank Elementary School

• CAMS High School

• Chavez Elementary School

• Fremont Elementary School

• Holmes Elementary School

• Los Cerritos Elementary School

• Naples Elementary School

• Oropeza Elementary School

• Roosevelt Elementary School

• Signal Hill Elementary School

• Addams Elementary School

• Alvarado Elementary School

• Barton Elementary School

• Beach High School

• Bryant Elementary School

• Chavez Elementary School

• Cleveland Elementary School

• Edison Elementary School

• Fremont Elementary School

• Henry Elementary School

• Holmes Elementary School

• King Elementary School

• Lincoln Elementary School

• Madison Elementary School

• McBride High School

• McKinley Elementary School

• Tincher K-8 School

• Twain Elementary School

• Whittier Elementary School

• Wilson High School

L O C A L C O N T R O L A N D A C C O U N T A B I L I T Y P L A N H I G H L I G H T S

2012-13

7633 9183 10447 12559 13688

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

34% 36%42%

46%

2012-132011-12 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

37%40%

42% 42%45%

49%

Students Take Record Number of AP Exams, Enroll in More AP Courses

Students in local schools are taking record num-bers of Advanced Placement college-level exams.The significant increase comes after concerted ef-forts to boost access to AP courses and tests.

The school district is providing students greater ac-cess to AP exams by covering much of the cost forfamilies. AP exams usually cost $92 each, but stu-dents here are paying only $5 per exam for an un-limited number of exams. Funding to cover examcosts is made possible through the Local Controland Accountability Plan, which allocates $1.85 mil-lion toward this effort. The percentage of 11th and12th graders enrolled in one or more AP courseshas increased steadily in recent years. Last year,46 percent of these students enrolled in AP course-work, up 12 percentage points since 2013-14.

More Students Meet CSU and UC Requirements

The percentage of students meeting the “A-G”entrance requirements for the California StateUniversity and University of California systemscontinues to increase. While students who donot meet these requirements can still attend other

colleges and universi-ties, including commu-nity colleges, LBUSDhas made a con-certed effort to im-prove A-G completionrates. A-G completionrose 4 percent overlast year, with stu-

dents of color closing achievement gaps by signifi-cant margins. African American students closedthe A-G achievement gap by 7 percent; Hispanicstudents by 8 percent; and Pacific Islander stu-dents by 12 percent.

AP Tests TakenNumber of Exams (All Grades)

Met A-GPercent of Graduates Meeting A-G

AP EnrollmentPercent of Students in Grades 11-12Enrolled in One or More AP Courses

L O C A L C O N T R O L A N D A C C O U N T A B I L I T Y P L A N H I G H L I G H T S

LBUSD Graduates Earned $94 Millionin Scholarships

The Class of 2017 in the LongBeach Unified School Districtearned $94.4 million in scholar-ships and grants. The total is afive-fold increase since a decade ago.

CSULB Enrollment Up

More than 800 Long Beach Unified School Districtgraduates enrolled as freshmen at Cal State LongBeach last year, up 56 percent since the start of theLong Beach College Promise Initiative nearly 10years ago. The Promise is a partnership withCSULB, Long Beach City College and the City of LongBeach to prepare more students for success incollege and careers. This initiative includes a freefirst year at LBCC for graduates of LBUSD.

More Than 40 Career Pathways Offered

The school district offers more than 40 career-themed pathways at high schools, which use theproven Linked Learning approach combining college-focused academics, work-based learning and inte-grated support for students. By centering highschool on industry themes, learning becomes morerelevant, and students graduate with skills and confi-dence needed to succeed in college, career and life.

Resources Carefully Allocated to ImproveAcademic Progress

LBUSD is the third largest school district in Califor-nia, with more than 74,000 students. The State ofCalifornia provides funding to help meet the needsof students. The school district’s LCAP includesapproximately $594 million of those state fundsallocated specifically toward academic improvementand closing achievement gaps. As with most organi-zations, the largest expenditures in LBUSD go towardpersonnel costs. These resources provide forthousands of classroom teachers, counselors and

school staff, including Advanced Placement andpathway coordinators working in specializedprograms:

• Literacy classes in grades K-3 ($19.7 million), which help elementary students learn how to read. This expenditure includes the cost of 146 literacy teachers.

• College and career readiness activities ($15 million), such as free PSAT/SAT exams, free SAT preparatory programs including Saturday prep at the major high schools, free college-level courses and college campus field trips.

• Advanced Placement courses and exams ($3.7 million), such as registration fees and tutorials that help students pass their tests and earn college credits. This expenditure includes 17 additional Advanced Placement teachers as part of an expansion of course sections on subjects such as AP Computer Science, AP Calculus, AP Seminar and AP Research. Eight AP coordinators and five pathway coordinators have been added to help guide students toward college and career readiness.

1515 Hughes Way • Long Beach, CA 90810

www.lbschools.net