Parents Rating Schools by Test Scores Should Choose LAUSD Magnets
Magnet Schools Dramatically Outperform Charters on SBAC Results
LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines released a blockbuster report today announcing the stellar performance of LAUSD magnet schools on the new Common Core aligned Smarter Balanced Assessments.
“While overall results indicate that independent charter schools scored higher on these tests than traditional LAUSD schools, it also highlights the stellar performance of our magnet schools, which out-performed charter schools at all grade levels,” Cortines wrote.
In English Language Arts, 65% of magnets scored higher than the state average compared with 34% of independent charters. On the Math assessment, 56% of magnets scored higher than the state average, more than twice what the charters scored.
This report proves what many public education advocates have always known: the diversity of our public schools is an asset, not something to avoid.
Charter school parents often choose charters because class sizes are smaller and the school community is similar to their own. But this report turns that choice on its head.
“The performance of our magnets demonstrates how academic innovation can serve minority students and those from underserved communities who are seeking a nontraditional education. While the primary function of our magnets is to ensure ethnic diversity at schools districtwide, the 198 magnet programs and schools also provide a community of learning for students at all economic levels.” Cortines said.
Will this report inform LAUSD policymaking? Let’s hope so. Magnets should be expanded so more students can enroll. Magnets should be provided with greater resources to support the teachers and provide smaller class sizes. More magnets should be opened to give more students the excellent education LAUSD can provide.
Even the test-obsessed will have trouble arguing with that.
View the report here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/282531634/SBA-Informative-LAUSD-Charters-Magnets
View the test score data here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/282531795/Attach-a-SBAC-LAUSD-Charters-Magnets