The only school in the Vallecitos district received a 5 and a 9 in the state and similar-school comparisons, respectively. Vivian Banks Charter School on the Pala Indian Reservation tested too few students to receive a ranking, according to the department. Fallbrook's two alternative high school programs, Ivy and Oasis high schools, also were too small to receive rankings. Along with the rankings, schools received improvement goals they will have to meet next year in order to cash in on state reward money. To earn the money, each school must improve scores by 5 percent, or between 6 and 10 points.
High stakes hang on the improvement goals.
Those that don't make the grade could be taken over by local or state agencies. State scores and rankings can help parents gauge a school's improvement, said educators and parents, but the numbers alone should not be used to measure a school's overall success. Parent Mary Fry of James E. Potter Junior High School agreed.