The API is a state scoring system that ranges from 200 to 1,000 with a statewide target of 800. MBUSD scored 915, up from last year’s score of 909.

“We are really excited about that growth in the district. It’s hard to continue to go up when the scores are high,” said Carolyn Seaton, director of educational services.

Scores for the API are based not only on STAR tests and high school exit exam results, but comparisons to schools statewide and other schools of similar demographic characteristics are also factored into the final score.

All of the schools in the district surpassed the 800 state target score.

Pennekamp Elementary had the highest of elementary school scores in the district at 966 with Robinson Elementary and Pacific Elementary close behind at 965 and 963 respectively. Grand View Elementary scored 955 and Meadows Elementary scored 946.

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified’s Cornerstone at Pedegral Elementary tied the top South Bay elementary score with Pennekamp, at 966.

Manhattan Beach Middle School scored 939 and Mira Costa High School scored 872. Palos Verdes Peninsula High scored the highest in South Bay high schools, at 879.

Statewide, high schools have lower scores than both middle and elementary schools. While 42 percent of all schools statewide are at or above the 800 target, the percentages decrease as grades increase. Of all elementary schools, 48 percent reached the target goal, 36 percent of middle schools met the goal and 21 percent of high schools met or surpassed 800.

Another goal of the API is to track subgroups such as African American, Hispanic or Latino and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and to track their progress alongside the higher achieving subgroups. The California Department of Education reported that white and Asian students still have significantly higher API scores, indicating that an achievement gap still exists in California’s schools.