Cochran Middle School, Public School Choice, and Academic Growth Over Time

Cochran Middle School demonstrates consistent progress in API growth.

In 5 of the last 6 years, Cochrans growth outpaces that of both CDE targets and LAUSD middle schools.

Cochrans growth has occurred in spite of the trend that each year we receive a larger portion of the most struggling students from elementary schools.

AGT allows us to examine the impact that schools and educators have on student learning outcomes and uses a value-added method that controls for external factors which often influence student test results. Measures of Academic Growth over Time inform several LAUSD strategies, including Using Data to Drive Standards Based Instruction, Creating & Supporting Quality Schools, and Supporting All Employees.

LAUSD is moving forward with the Academic Growth Over Time (AGT) Metric, a metric designed to measure impact.
http://portal.battelleforkids.org/BFK/LAUS D/FAQ.html?sflang=en

According to LAUSD data, Cochran Middle School outperforms both the LAUSD median and the average LAUSD Middle School AGT Score in 5 of the 6 major categories. Applying the definition of AGT, Cochrans estimate is not significantly different from the District average.

An analysis of average 2010 AGT of the PSC 3.0 Focus Schools shows that while several have some of the lowest impact, many have a greater impact than literally hundreds of non-PSC schools.

A consistent approach to the PSC process, including 3.0 Focus Schools, would acknowledge that both API and AGT are relevant metrics to determine which schools should participate in the process.