Academic Excellence

By Thomas J. "Tom" Bundros

Boards are responsible to create the conditions that will enable students to meet more rigorous knowledge and performance standards. I am passionately committed to help drive continuous improvement in the quality and breadth of education offered by our schools.

The District's average Academic Performance Index (API) has increased 85 points since 2001. That improvement has slightly exceeded the average increase by the state. Academic performance has improved but is not accelerating as fast as the Board and Superintendent would like it to.

38% of GHS students are proficient or advanced in Language Arts; and 18% of GHS students are proficient in math (up from 12% the year before). The bad news is that 62% of GHS students are NOT proficient in Language Arts and (this should be frightening) 82% of GHS students are NOT proficient in Math.

With respect to SAT, GHS scores lag the county, state, and country. The good news: if the trend of the last few years continues, we may have turned the corner and our average scores are moving up. Advanced Placement pass rates (with a few bright exceptions) are generally poor.

We have a lot of work to do. The "we" includes everyone: parents, students, teachers, classified staff, District administration, and Board members, and community.

Boards are responsible to create the conditions that will enable students to meet more rigorous knowledge and performance standards. I am passionately committed to help drive continuous improvement in the quality and breadth of education offered by our schools. I ask for your support, involvement, and help in doing so.