Achievement Gap: Sweetwater High

School
Presented by: Sally
Barquin & Leandra
Ordorica

Agenda
Background Information:
- Achievement Gap
- Demographics
Presentation of Data
Strengths and Weaknesses
Recommendations

Achievement Gap
Achievement Gap: Students with equal ability do not achieve academic
success at the same levels (Holcomb-McCoy, 2007).
There is a disproportional rate in educational achievement within
diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds (Holcomb-McCoy, 2007).
Low-income and minority students encounter lower levels of academic
achievement (Holcomb-McCoy, 2007).
Recent trends suggests that females are outpacing males in terms of
educational achievement (College Board, 2013).

Demographics 2012-2013
School

English
Learners %

Socioeconomi
cally
Disadvantage
d%

Students
with
Disabilitie
s%

Total # of
Students

Sweetwater

63.3%

78.0%

12.6%

2,833

74.3%
SUHi

75.3%

12.7%

2,478

San Ysidro

1% 1% 2%
12%
1%
1%

81%

Demographics 2012-2013
SUHi

1% 1% 2%

San Ysidro

2% 1% 2%

12%
1%
1%

81%

94%

CA

District

3%
8%
1%
2%
0%

2%

8% 3%
26%

75%

53%

6%
3%
1%
9%

1%

CAHSEE Introduction
High school graduation
requirement
Minimum of 350 on
math and English to
pass
Range 275-450

Sweetwater High School: CAHSEE Results

100%
90%

87%

80%
70%
60%
50%
40%

30%
20%

During the past 3 school

years, students have passed
both sections with at least a
81% passing rate

10%
0%

83%
91%
2010-2011

81%
2011-2012

English Language Arts

81%
86%
2012-2013

Mathematics

More students are passing the

math section
Math scores decreased by 5%
from 2010-2013

Sweetwater High School: 2012-2013 CAHSEE

Results by Ethnicity
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

95% 95%
79%

85%
73%

79%

73% 73%

Filipino students had the highest

passing rates in English and math
Hispanics/Latinos were the second
highest group to pass English and
math

English Language Arts

Mathematics

Sweetwater High School: 2012-2013 CAHSEE

Results by Gender
100%
88%

90%
80%

79%

70%
60%

More female students

passed math and English
at a higher rate

50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

Male and female

students are passing
math at a higher rate
than English

84%Arts
English Language

Male

85%
Mathematics

Female

CAHSEE Results Sweetwater, District and CA

2012-2013
100%
90%
80%

86%
81%

85%

88%
83%

84%

Trends remain consistent across

SUHi, district, and CA. More
students passed the math
section.

70%

Compared to the district, SUHi

had lower passing rates in English
and in math

60%
50%
40%

SUHi is doing better in math

passing rates than CA

30%
20%
10%
0%

SUHi

District

English Language Arts

CA
Mathematics

SAT Scored Introduction

Overall score

Subject score

Range

600-2400

200-800

National Average

1550

500

Good State School

1850

617

Ivy League

2150

717

Low score for any

4 year

1100

367

Source: The Princeton Review

(2014)

Sweetwater SAT Scores 2010-2013

2400

SAT scores have decreased 29

points in the past 3 academic
school years

2200
2000
1800
1600
1400

1350

1336

1321

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

1200
1000
800
600

SAT Results by Subject: 2012-2013

520
500
480
460
440
420
400
380

479

492

492

508

65 points
difference

464

463

434

424

SUHi

District

CA

489

Compared to the
District and CA,
SUHi scored far
below across critical
reading, math, and
writing

SAT Results Sweetwater vs San Ysidro: 20122013

520
500

3 points
difference

16 points
difference

480
463
460
440

466

5 points
difference

450
434
424

429

420
400
380

Critical Reading Average

Math Average
SUHi

San Ysidro

Writng Average

SAT Scores Averaged: Schools, District, CA

2010-2013
520
500.6

500

497.3

480

450

478.3

472

467
460

496.3

448.3
440.3

447.3
445.3

440
427
420
400
380

2010-2011
SUHi

2011-2012
San Ysidro

District

2012-2013
CA

In the past 3 years, the

district and CA have been
doing better compared to
SUHi and San Ysidro
2010-2011 was the only
year SUHi did better than
San Ysidro

Introduction to ACT Scores

Score
Range

1-36

National Average

21-22

Good State School

27

Ivy League

33-34

Low score for any 4

year

15

Source: The Princeton Review

(2014)

Sweetwater ACT Scores Averaged 2010-2013

25

20

19.34

SUHi has been scoring

below national average
18.93

19

(21-22)
15

SUHi scored lower

averages of what a
good state school
looks for (27)

10

2010-2011

2011-2012
SUHi

2012-2013

Sweetwater vs San Ysidro

ACT Results: 2010-2013
25

20

In 2010-2011, SUHi did slightly

better than San Ysidro
19.34

18.93

17.85

19.21

19

19

15

10

2010-2011

2011-2012
SUHi

San Ysidro

2012-2013

In 2011-2012, San Ysidro did

slightly better than SUHi

ACT Scores 2010-2013: Schools, District, and CA

25
21.73
20.18

20 19.34
17.85

21.81
20.61
19.21
18.93

21.87
20.65
19

19

15
10
5
0

2010-2011
SUHi

2011-2012
San Ysidro

District

2012-2013
CA

-AP

District and CA did better

than SUHi and San Ysidro
throughout 2010-2013
In 2010-2011, SUHi did
better while in 2011-2012,
San Ysidro did better

Introduction to Advanced Math and

Chemistry
Reach Higher Initiative: improve
science, technology, engineer, and
math (STEM) career participation for
women, under-represented
groups, and students from low
income communities or underserved
communities (White House, 2014)
Advanced math: all math classes
taken above required classes to take
Ex: Trigonometry, Math Analysis, Statistics,
Calculus etc.

Chemistry: all chemistry classes

available
Ex: Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Conceptual
Chemistry

Advanced Sweetwater Math 2010-2013

35%
30%
25%

23%

20%
16%

18%

15%
10%
5%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

Sweetwaters
advanced math
enrollment rate
increased 7% in 3
years.

Advanced Math 2010-2013: Sweetwater, District,

CA
35%
30%
25%

23%

21%
20%

17%17%
16%

18%

18%

20%
18%

15%
10%
5%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012
SUHi

District

CA

2012-2013

District and CA advanced

math enrollment has
been somewhat
consistent for last 3
years.
SUHis advanced math
enrollment rate
increasing in 3 years

Advanced Math Enrollment by Gender

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%

60%
50%

48%

57%

52%
40%

40%

43%

30%
20%
10%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012

Male

Female

2012-2013

14%

Females consistently
enrolled in advanced
math classes more
than males
2012-2013, 14% more
females than males
were enrolled in
advanced math

Chemistry Sweetwater 2010-2013

35%
29%

30%
25%

25%
20%

20%

15%
10%
5%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

Student enrollment
in chemistry
increases every
year

Chemistry: School, District, and State 2010-2013

35%
29%

30%
25%

25%
20%

20%
17%16%

18%
15%

15%

20%
16%

10%
5%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012
SUHi

District

2012-2013
CA

SUHi enrollment has

increased from 20102013
District and CA rate has
stayed consistent
SUHi enrollment rate
higher than both district
and CA through 20102013

Chemistry Enrollment by Gender

2010-2013
100%
90%
80%
70%
57%

60%
50%

43%

53%
47%

50% 50%

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012
Male

Female

2012-2013

Gender enrollment in
chemistry classes has
been more
proportionate
throughout the years

Introduction to AP Scores

Students who take an AP exam

are more likely to graduate
college in 4 years or fewer
(Mattern, Marini, & Shaw, 2014).

AP Scores: Sweetwater Passage Rate

2010-2013
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%

41%

41%

40%

36%

30%
20%
10%
0%
2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

SUHi AP passage rate

decreased 5% from
2011-2013

AP Passage Rate: Schools, District, State 20102013

100%
90%
80%
70%

65%

68%

58%
60%

55%
59%

49%
50%
41%
40%

58%
54%

41%

36%

30%
20%
10%
0%
2010-2011

2011-2012
SUHi

San Ysidro

2012-2013
District

CA

SUHi AP passage
rate is less than San
Ysidro, District, and
CA for 3 years.
San Ysidro improved
passage rate by
19% exceeding
district (54%) and
CA (585) passage
rates.

AP Courses Offered 2012-2013

Sweetwat
er

San
Ysidro# Classes

# Classes

Subject

English

English

Foreign Language

16

Foreign Language

12

Mathematics

Mathematics

Science

10

Science

Social Science

Social Science

Total

50

Total

38

Subject

19.2% of population taking AP

courses

6.7% of population taking AP

courses

AP Course: % of 11 and 12 grade

Students Taking Exam
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%

50%

48% 48%

45%

51% 49%

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012
SUHi

San Ysidro

2012-2013

SUHi and San

Ysidro have been
testing their 11
and 12th graders at
the same rate

San Ysidro vs. SUHi Passage Numbers/Rate

2010-2013
1600

36
%

1420

1400
1200

SUHi

San
Ysidro

41
%

1060

1000
800

49%

41%

65%

665

642

600
400

65%

313

493

475

321

325
275

200
0

432

518

2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

# tests taken

# passed

More AP exams are passed

in SUHi (518) than San
Ysidro (325) in 2012-2013.
However San Ysidros
passage rate has
consistently been higher
than SUHis.
San Ysidro: 49% to 65%
16% increase
SUHi: 41% to 36%
5% decrease

A-G Classes Introduction

List of required classes
needed to enroll in UC/CSU
schools
Examples: English, Math,
Science, World History, etc.

Minimum grade of a C

A-G Classes: Sweetwater

45%
40%
35%

31%

33%

33%

30%
25%
20%

UC/CSU eligibility
increased from 20102013 by 2%.

15%
10%
5%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

A-G Completion: Sweetwater, District,

CA
45%
40%
35%

37%38%

37%
33%
31%

33%

6% 39%39%
33%

30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012
SUHi

District

CA

2012-2013

SUHis completion rate has

consistently been less than
both the districts and CA.
Largest difference in
2012-2013: 6%

A-G Completion: Gender

60%

SUHi, 20% gender

difference between
both the district and
CA during 2012-2013.
Females
67%
65%
64%
consistently do
57%
57%
better.
56%

50%

44%
43%
43%

100%
90%
80%
70%

40%
30%

36%
35%
33%

57%
57%
57%
43%
43%
43%
14%

34%

20%
10%
0%

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

14%

A-G Completion: Ethnicity

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%

60%
58%
52%
+8
%

44%
91% of
SUHi
30%
28%
27%
populatio
n

10%

36%
30%

33%
33%
31%

20%

+2%

11% 9%
-16%

2011-2012

2012-2013

0%

2010-2011

Filipinos have highest

eligibility rate and
progressively improves each
year.
Hispanic and African
American lowest rate of
students UC/CSU eligible.
Hispanics improved by
2%.
African Americans
decreased by 16%.
White n=11 (2012-2013)
African American n=10
(2012-2013)

Post-Secondary Plans:2010-2013
70%
63%
58%

60%
50%

46%

40%

37%

30%
20%

24%
18%

18%

16%
12%

10%
0%

4 year

Community College
2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

Vocational, military, etc

Strengths
High enrollment rate in
advanced math classes.
High numbers of AP exams
passed.
High percentage of student
pass CAHSEE.
No large gaps for SUHis
ACT score as opposed to
SAT.

Weaknesses
Disproportionate rate of females are
completing A-G classes compared to
males.
Disproportionate rate of females are
enrolled in advanced math compared
to males.
1/3 of the Hispanic/Latino population
complete A-G classes.
Discrepancies of perceptions of
student achievement amongst staff.
Missing data for college going rates.

Recommendations

Provide CAHSEE support for ELL students.

Gather data about college going rates.
Inform staff of achievement data results.
Continue pushing students to take the ACT.

Recommendations
Explore factors contributing to disproportionate
completion rate of A-G classes and advanced math
enrollment amongst males and females.
Investigate and implement intervention to address low A-G
completion of Latino/Hispanic students.
Provide more support for ELL students in A-G completion.

Investigate if students are doing well in their AP courses.

References
California Department of Education. (2014). California schools data.
Available from http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/
College Board (2013). The educational experience of young men of
color.Retrieved from https://youngmenofcolor.collegeboard.org/researchlandscape/current- landscape
Holcomb-McCoy, C. (2007). School counseling to close the
achievement gap: A social justice framework for success. Thousand Oaks,
CA: Corwin.
Mattern, Marini, & Shaw (2013). Are AP students more likely to graduate
from
college on time? Research Report 2013-5, 1-27.
Office of the Press Secretary (2014), Fact sheet: Improving college
opportunity. The White House.

Questions and Comments?