Fenton Charter Leadership Academy ranks 2,016th among California elementary schools in English testing

Fenton Charter Leadership Academy students ranked 2,016th in California among elementary schools, with 1.9 percent of all students meeting English requirements in the 2018-2019 school year, according to the California Department of Education (CDE).

CDE data shows that public school test scores in the state are improving. However, they are improving at a prolonged rate. Consequently, it could take up to decades to close the achievement gap. The achievement gap refers to the disparities in academic performance associated with race and class. In this case, the disparities between students of the following subgroups: white, Asian, Latino and Black.

In his paper Closing Achievement Gaps, Paul E. Barton, former Director of the Policy Information Center at Educational Testing Services, highlights the importance of closing the gap. “Closing the gap must be more than a one-front operation,” Barton said. “Educators must hold themselves responsible and accountable for improving schools when and where we can. We must recognize that the achievement gap has deep roots”.

According to Fresno Unified School District, Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Executive Director of the Education Trust-West, states, “I’d say that these results are really a wake-up call, but the phone’s been ringing unanswered on this for years. California can’t be complacent with results like these”.

It is apparent that systemic changes need to be made in order to overcome the achievement gap of California public schools.