Fair Oaks Community

About the Tests

• In 2007-2008 California used the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) to test high school students' skills in English language arts and mathematics.
• The results for grade 10 students taking the test for the first time are displayed on GreatSchools profiles.
• The CAHSEE is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined by the state of California.
• Students must pass all parts of the CAHSEE in order to graduate from high school. If they do not pass it the first time, students have multiple opportunities to retake the test.
• The goal is for all students to pass both sections of the test.

Testing in California: An Overview

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About the Tests

• In 2007-2008 California used the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) to test high school students' skills in English language arts and mathematics.
• The results for grade 10 students taking the test for the first time are displayed on GreatSchools profiles.
• The CAHSEE is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined by the state of California.
• The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
• Students must pass all parts of the CAHSEE in order to graduate from high school. If they do not pass it the first time, students have multiple opportunities to retake the test.
• The goal is for all students to pass both sections of the test.

Testing in California: An Overview  

About the tests

• In 2007-2008 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled.
• The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California.
• The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

Testing in California: An Overview

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The California Reading List: Helpful information to support your child's reading

About the tests

• In 2007-2008 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled.
• The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California.
• The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
• The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

Testing in California: An Overview  

About the Tests

• In 2007-2008 California used the California Achievement Test (CAT/6) to test students in grades 3 and 7 in reading, language, spelling and math.
• The results for reading and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles.
• The CAT/6 is a norm-referenced test, which means it measures how well students in California scored in comparison to their peers across the country.
• The goal is for all students to score at or above the 50th percentile (the national average) on the test.

Testing in California: An Overview

Compare with test results from nearby schools  

About the Tests

• In 2007-2008 California used the California Achievement Test (CAT/6) to test students in grades 3 and 7 in reading, language, spelling and math.
• The results for reading and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles.
• The CAT/6 is a norm-referenced test, which means it measures how well students in California scored in comparison to their peers across the country.
• The goal is for all students to score at or above the 50th percentile (the national average) on the test.

Testing in California: An Overview  

API Growth (2007-2008)
Not available (2008 Growth) Not available (2007 Base) The Academic Performance Index (API) system is based on year-over-year test score performance through a two-year cycle. The Base score is for the first year and the Growth score is for the second year. Comparing the API Growth to the Base shows whether or not this school's test score performance improved between spring 2007 and spring 2008 (as reported in August 2008). The API ranges between 200 and 1000, with 800 as the statewide goal for all schools.

API Growth Target (2007-2008)
-50-25 0255075100   Not available (2008 Growth result)   Not available (2008 Growth target)

• Each school is assigned an API Growth target by the state, determined by calculating 5% of the difference between the Base API and 800, or a minimum of 5 point growth. Schools with APIs at or above 800 must maintain a minimum API of 800.
• To encourage schools to improve achievement for all students, the state computes APIs and sets improvement targets for the different student subgroups at the school.
• The state reports APIs for schools that test a minimum of 85% of eligible students in any subject.

2008 API Growth APIs The Academic Performance Index ranges from 200 (lowest) to 1000 (highest). In general, higher API scores indicate higher overall academic performance, as measured by the STAR tests. The state's goal for every school is 800. To encourage schools to improve the academic performance of all students, the state also computes APIs for each of the major subgroups of students at the school. This school does not have subgroup data.

2007 API Statewide Rank
There is no 2007 API Statewide Rank available for this school. The API Statewide Rank ranges from 1 to 10. A rank of 10, for example, means that the school's API fell into the top 10% of all schools in the state with a comparable grade range. The 2007 Statewide Rank is based on the results of tests that students took in spring 2007.

2007 API Similar Schools Rank
There is no 2007 API Similar Schools Rank available for this school. To create the Similar Schools Rank, the California Department of Education compares this school's test scores to 100 schools across the state with similar demographic profiles. California uses parent education level, poverty level, student mobility, student ethnicity and other data to identify similar schools.

Testing in California: An Overview

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2007-2008 API subgroup results  

About the Tests

• The ACT is a national college admission and placement examination.
• ACT scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 36. The Composite score is an average of the English, math, reading and science scores.
• Results displayed for each year include the scores for students in grades 11 and 12.

More about the tests