Vista Grande Elementary

Academic Performance Index (API)

What is the API?

The API is a single number, ranging from a low of 200 to a high of 1000, that reflects a school’s or LEA’s performance level, based on the results of statewide testing. Its purpose is to measure the academic performance and growth of schools. The API was established by the PSAA, a landmark state law passed in 1999 that created a new academic accountability system for K-12 public education in California. The PSAA also established an alternative accountability system for schools serving high-risk students— the Alternative Schools Accountability Model (ASAM).

The API is calculated by converting a student’s performance on statewide assessments across multiple content areas into points on the API scale. These points are then averaged across all students and all tests. The result is the API. An API is also calculated for LEAs and for each numerically significant subgroup of students at a school or LEA. (An LEA, for API reporting, is defined as a school district or a county office of education.) Schools and numerically significant subgroups have unique annual API growth targets.

The key features of the API include the following:

• The API is based on an improvement model. It is used to measure the academic growth of a school.
• The API from one year is compared to the API from the prior year to measure improvement. Each school has an annual target, and all numerically significant subgroups at a school also have targets.
• The API requires subgroup accountability to address the achievement gaps that exist between traditionally higher- and lower-scoring student subgroups.
• The API is a cross-sectional look at student achievement. It does not track individual student progress across years but rather compares snapshots of school or LEA level achievement results from one year to the next.
• The API is used to rank schools. A school is compared to other schools statewide and to 100 other schools that have similar demographic characteristics.
• The API is currently a school-based requirement under state law. However, API reports are provided for LEAs in order to meet federal requirements under NCLB.