AV high schools win awards, funds, score low in '98

Educational programs won awards and schools gained funds. Also, statistics showed, the high schools experienced rising campus crime and sinking test scores.

For the second year in a row, the Antelope Valley Union High School District was awarded one of the top education awards in the state - the Golden Bell - given to 60 schools annually by the California School Boards Association.

Last year, the district received the Golden Bell for its school-towork programs, including seven career academies, an extensive regional occupational program and a work ethic curriculum.

The work ethic program that is the centerpiece of the award is based on four words - trustworthy, responsible, respectful and fair.

Salute to Youth, this year's winning program, is a kind of huge career day that was attended by nearly 2,800 students from 13 Antelope Valley area high schools.

This is the 10th year of the annual event, which is offered through a coalition of the Antelope Valley Union High School District, business, industry, government and education planners.

Another award was presented to the district for the school lunch program. They were one of 12 schools selected out of 317 vying for the Outstanding School Lunch Program Award.

Antelope Valley and Littlerock high schools' "Anytime Anywhere Learning" laptop computer program became part of the national historical record at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., on April 6.

The program was recognized for its innovative approach to preparing students for working in the information age.

Though not really an award, Highland and Quartz Hill high schools were accepted into the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, a recognition of high standards.

The International Baccalaureate is an elite standard of college preparatory schooling, internationally known for its high standards. Only about 1% of the schools in the United States have been accepted as IB schools. In California there are about 40.

Quartz Hill and Highland high schools have had "pre-IB" programs for their ninth-graders, because they had not yet been accepted to the program. Examiners from IB North America visited the schools in April to determine whether they would be allowed into the program.

In August the schools were notified that they were accepted.

Teachers, too, garnered their accolades this year.

In September, Highland High health teacher Teri Weyer was given the Crystal Apple award from KNBC news. Every week a teacher who "makes a profound difference in the lives of their students" is selected from hundreds of nominees to receive the Crystal Apple.

Financial rewards were in abundance too this year. Five Antelope Valley high schools were among 315 statewide chosen to receive "Digital High School" grants. Palmdale, Highland, Rosamond, Desert and North Edwards high schools were among the chosen.

Palmdale High is slated to get $907,200; Highland High, $808,200; Rosamond High, $206,700; Desert High, $183,900; and North Edwards High, $27,000. The amounts are based on a $300per-student calculation.

A $9.2 billion statewide school construction bond passed by voters in the Nov. 3 elections benefits all of the schools in the state, but AV schools are especially in need.

Every school in the district is at, or over, capacity with the south end of the Valley - Highland and Palmdale high schools - being the hardest hit.

Highland has about 2,850 students on a campus designed for about 2,100. Palmdale has a similar situation with crowding and both campuses have a small city of relocatable, mobile home-type classrooms. Districtwide, enrollment is growing at a rate of about 5% a year.

Proposition 1A funds new school construction. But there's a catch. The successful proposition provides funds for only 50%, and upgrade construction for 80%, of the cost of a project.

The high school district will begin a large campaign, next year, to ease the crisis of overcrowding in Valley schools next year with a five- to seven-year plan that includes a $50 million local school bond.

Despite the new financial support and many awards, 1998 also had its downside for local high schools.

According to a state-required summary of crime statistics, the total number of incidents reported in the Antelope Valley Union High School District rose 24% from the 1995-96 school year to the 1996-97 year. Crime assessments are a year behind because they are collected through the previous year.

According to the California Safe Schools Assessment Program report:

Alcohol and drug-use cases rose 34% from the 1995-96 year, from 43 to 60 cases;

Assault with a deadly weapon complaints were up 18%, from nine to 11 cases;

Battery rose by 79%, from 39 to 73 cases;

Possession of weapons rose 48%, from 29 to 45 cases;

Burglary went up 300%, from four to 16 cases;

Vandalism reports were up 300%, from five to 15 cases.

High school district and Sheriff's Department officials cited more aggressive reporting of crimes and tighter security on campuses for the increases in the number of crimes reported by Antelope Valley Union High School District schools.

Academic statistics were also a difficult subject in 1998. California's average verbal and math SAT scores edged up for the fourth straight year while averages in Antelope Valley high schools dipped slightly according to figures released in September by the state Department of Education.

The state's average math score was 516, four points above the national average and two points above the state's performance last year.

Valley students scored an average 481 in math, a seven-point drop from last year.

Verbal scores averaged 497, eight points below the national average and one point above last year. The local average in verbal dropped three points to 482.

California instituted a new statewide assessment testing program for all students in grades two through 11 this year. Students of the Antelope Valley Union High School District scored below national averages in all academic categories.

Because this is the first year of the test, it was criticized as being inaccurate and not testing the curriculum being taught. There is also no benchmark to judge by so next year will tell the tale.