Features

Berkeley High School Vice Principal Pasquale Scuderi announced Thursday that the school had not met the benchmarks to receive an Annual Performance Index (API) score. The federal government requires a 95 percent participation rate in the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) tests. 

“I would say that the participation rate in the STAR testing was a little under 80 percent,” said Scuderi. 

Principal Jim Slemp reported that the state of California had previously allowed the adequate participation rate to be measured as 95 percent on the California High School Exit Exam and 85 percent on the STAR tests. However, that policy has changed.  

“It doesn’t look like they are going to allow us to do that this way again,” said Slemp. “Our students don’t just take a test because somebody says it’s a good idea. They make their own intelligent decisions and I don’t think that these tests are an accurate reflection of our school.” 

The state government allows students to opt-out of taking the STAR tests if they bring a note from their parent/guardian indicating their desires. Many students take advantage of that option, which brings down the API score. 

“I really don’t like taking the standardized tests,” said Delia Keller. “They don’t measure how smart you are and they’re really boring to sit through.” 

Slemp mentioned that according to a recent study in Newsweek magazine, Berkeley High ranked 284 nationally, above Bay Area schools such as Miramonte, Alcalanes, Palo Alto High, etc. 

Slemp said, “We are one of the best high schools in the country. It just shows the ridiculousness of this test. Under this standard, we are being categorized as underperforming and that’s just not true.” 

Scuderi concurred, “The idea of a common benchmark to measure student performance is a good impulse, but it needs considerable revision.”