High school test performance undermines graduation rate
The Oct. 24 edition of the La Jolla Light reported that the La Jolla public schools’ most recent test performance was a mixed bag.
I suppose that depends on one’s expectations. Let us set aside the elementary and middle school scores and just focus on the high school scores, thinking that the high school students are, for the most part, products of the two lower levels and built on that foundation.
The good news is that there was a graduation rate of 98.6% — roughly 295 out of about 300 students [based on typical numbers]. Yet 68% of these La Jolla High graduates met or exceeded standards for English and 56% of them did so for math. Viewing that another way, about 100 LJHS graduates did not meet the standards for English and about 130 did not meet the standards for math.
Is this something to celebrate? It might be if the standard for comparison is the San Diego Unified School District as a whole. The La Jolla cluster outperformed SDUSD, which had just over half its students (54%) who met or exceeded standards in English while well under half (42%) did so in math.
How does one reconcile graduating so many students who do not meet standards in the fundamental skills of math and English? Seems a lot like social promotion to me.
By accepting a lower level of skills, we are doing an enormous disservice to these students — and by extension, to the society in which they hope to contribute.
Jonathan Scheff
Warnings are needed near cliffs
For several years I have been asking lifeguards in La Jolla Shores why there are no signs posted stating Unstable cliffs, stay back a safe distance.
They have not done it or warned anyone sitting or exploring close to the cliffs north of Scripps Pier. Nor have the state of California, Scripps Institution or UC San Diego posted anything.
I make it a point to say something to people I encounter that are too close to the cliffs. Most are totally unaware that these cliffs are unstable.
Now I see that there has been a big settlement for family members of three women killed in an Encinitas bluff collapse.
What will it take to notify and warn people? This seems irresponsible to me!
Bill Allen
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