Peach Hill Academy lauded for change
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Peach Hill Academy surpassed the expectations of local school leaders when, within a twoyear period, it transformed itself from being a school at risk of failing state standards into an exemplary site.

The local elementary school was placed in a Program Improvement category in 2006 because students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and English learners weren't meeting the target growth rate set by the state. Soon after, teachers and administrators developed a daily pull-out intervention program to help low performers improve their math and English skills, a plan that last month produced a Distinguished School award from the California Department of Education.

"We are delighted by the progress made by Peach Hill- to go from Program Improvement to Distinguished School status in two years is a testament to the vision of Principal Donna Welch and the dedication of all of Peach Hill teachers," said Anna Merriman, assistant superintendent of instruction for the Moorpark Unified School District.

"The school staff set and reached their goal of students being successfully taught meaningful, important grade level content every day," said Marilyn Green, director of special projects for the district.

"We are delighted that they received recognition as a Distinguished School. It is well deserved."

Mesa Verde Middle School also showed significant progress this past year, achieving a four-point gain on the Academic Performance Index ranking that measures schools serving similar demographics on a scale of 1 through 10.

"Increasing four levels (from 6 to 10) on the similar school rank is a remarkable accomplishment and certainly one that we are celebrating," said Superintendent Ellen Smith.

"Mesa Verde teachers and administrators are to be congratulated for their dramatic gains," she said.

Four other district schools, including Arroyo West, Flory, Chaparral Middle School and Moorpark High School, improved one level on the state similar school rankings. They all achieved 10 on the API's similar school ranking scale.

According to state school Superintendent Jack O'Connell, the Academic Performance Index pushes schools to improve each year, and the release of the Base API lets the public know how schools in their communities are doing in comparison to other schools in the state and in comparison to schools with similar socioeconomic characteristics.

Even as state and federal accountability targets increase in difficulty, Moorpark schools are meeting the challenge. "Both the statewide ranking and similar school rankings show that our schools are performing well," Merriman said.