School Accountability Report Card Reported for School Year 2003-2004 Published During 2004-2005
Notes regarding the source and currency of data: Data included in this School Accountability Report Card (SARC) are consistent with State Board of Education guidelines, which are available at the California Department of Education Web site http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/definitions04.asp. Most data presented in this report were collected from the 2003-04 school year or from the two preceding years (2001-02 and 2002-03). Due to the certification timelines for graduation, dropout, and fiscal information, the data for these sections of the report were collected in 2002-03.
School Information
District Information
School Name
El Portal Elementary
District Name
Lowell Joint
Principal
Linda Takacs
Superintendent
Dr. Joe Gillentine
Street
200 N. Nada St.
11019 Valley Home Ave.
City, State, Zip
La Habra, CA 90631-
Whittier, CA 90603-3042
Phone Number
562 9024211
562 943-0211
FAX Number
562 694-0022
562 947-7874
Web Site
www.ljsd.k12.ca.us./elportal
www.ljsd.k12.ca.us
E-mail Address
ltakacs@lws.lacoe.edu
jlaurich@lws.lacoe.edu
CDS Code
19-64766-6020127
SARC Contact
John Laurich
School Description and Mission Statement
El Portal School Profile
El Portal School serves 555 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Our school, reopened just nine years ago, is located in a suburban, middle class area. Approximately 43% of our students are from a Hispanic background and 48% Caucasian. The high expectations of our staff are mirrored in the high expectations of our families. We are a dedicated school community working together to provide a high level of academic excellence to our students. We are committed to the growth of our students academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. National and state measures show the consistent high quality of education that students receive at El Portal. 54% of our students scored at or above the proficient level in Math on the California Standards Test and 56% of our students scored at or above the Proficient level in English/Language Arts on the CST. Our API is 809, nine points above the State goal for the year 2014. El Portal met all but one of the State AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) goals. El Portal provides a broad based curriculum and stresses an education that includes personal integrity, social responsibility, and a study of our national heritage. El Portal offers differentiated instruction focused to meet the needs of our diverse population. We have quality programs structured to meet the needs of all students including our Title One students, English Language Learners, and Special Education students. Our 24 full time teachers are highly trained and are supported by an excellent support staff including a computer technician, library technician, four instructional assistants, an English Language Specialist, and three instructional assistants to aid in the instructional of our English Language Learners. A nurse, school psychologist, and specialists in speech and language, art, and music also provide students excellent care. Our school environment promotes learning and our facilities are well maintained. Each classroom is air-conditioned and attractive. Our grounds are colorful and well manicured. We have state of the art playground equipment that offers a fun and safe playground experience for our children. El Portal boasts a large, beautiful new library with over 12,000 volumes offering a wide variety of reading experiences for our students. Not only is the physical environment inviting, but we also offer an array of exciting activities to promote school spirit. Student achievement and good citizenship is recognized on a regular basis. Our CARE awards program (Character, Attitude, Responsibility, Effort) reflects our commitment to encouraging healthy values in each child on our campus.
El Portal Mission Statement
It is the mission of El Portal School to create for our students a strong educational foundation and to encourage and develop in students Character, a Passion for Learning, and Academic Excellence. Our staff, parents, and community members work closely together to help each child reach his/her potential. It is our goal to develop in students a strong foundation in America’s values, traditions and heritage and to teach our students to embrace the diversity of others on campus and in the community. Collaboration between school and home is an integral part of the success of El Portal School. Working together as a school community, El Portal provides a safe, child-centered environment that provides students with the essential skills to become life-long learners. El Portal is a school where students and staff approach the learning process eagerly, with enthusiasm, passion, and wonder. The staff provides an atmosphere that fosters creativity, individuality, cooperation, and understanding. The staff is trained in numerous teaching styles and utilizes a variety of strategies to provide an exciting and well-balanced instructional program designed to meet the needs of all students. The curriculum is comprehensive and challenging, one that builds skills and knowledge while developing critical thinkers and productive members of society. El Portal School is the doorway to adventure where we Believe, Achieve and Succeed.
Opportunities for Parental Involvement
Contact Person Name
Contact Person Phone Number
562 902-4211
Parents at El Portal have many opportunities for involvement and are highly visible on our campus. Parents volunteer daily in our library, and in our classrooms. Parents and community members are volunteer readers one hour a week on campus. Our local high school students also volunteer time on our campus. Through our very active PTA, parents sponsor many programs on our campus: Fall Festival, Red Ribbon Week, Donuts for Dad, Muffins for Mom, fundraisers that support our field trips and assemblies, the Reflections Program, and Family Night are some of the many activities that take place through our PTA.
Parents also help throughout the year as room parents who help plan special events for our children. Parents are also involved in our ELAC Committee and School Site Council. Parent involvement on our campus is an integral part of the success of our campus programs.
I. Demographic Information Student Enrollment, by Grade Level Data reported are the number of students in each grade level as reported by the California Basic Educational Data System (CBEDS).
Grade Level
Enrollment
Kindergarten
74
Grade 9
0
Grade 1
81
Grade 10
Grade 2
Grade 11
Grade 3
72
Grade 12
Grade 4
82
Ungraded Secondary
Grade 5
92
Grade 6
76
Grade 7
Grade 8
Ungraded Elementary
Total Enrollment
551
Student Enrollment, by Ethnic Group Data reported are the number and percent of students in each racial/ethnic category as reported by CBEDS.
Racial/Ethnic Category
Number of Students
Percent of Students
African-American
4
0.7
Hispanic or Latino
260
47.2
American Indian or Alaska Native
1
0.2
Pacific Islander
0.0
Asian
23
4.2
White (Not Hispanic)
241
43.7
Filipino
2
0.4
Multiple or No Response
20
3.6
II. School Safety and Climate for Learning School Safety Plan
Date of Last Review/Update
September, 2004
Date Last Discussed with Staff
January, 2005
El Portal has in place a comprehensive school safety program. A disaster and crisis intervention plan is current and reviewed each year. A school wide discipline plan is reviewed and followed with appropriate positive and negative consequences outlined to provide a fair and consistent program for all students. The program is designed to assist students in learning how to make appropriate choices. Guidelines for behavior are reviewed with all students. El Portal’s school programs help to provide a safe and appropriate learning environment for all students. The learning environment reflects an academic focus and El Portal maintains high expectations and standards for achievement and behavior. Pride in the physical environment is stressed and a safe, orderly campus is maintained. Visitors on our campus are expected to wear an identifying badge at all times and our campus is secured throughout the school day. El Portal Safety Patrol is used to help maintained an organized and safe pick up and drop off of students entering and exiting our campus. We review safety procedures monthly with fire drills and earthquake drills.
School Programs and Practices that Promote a Positive Learning Environment
A variety of programs on our campus promote a positive learning environment. Our monthly awards program offers: Student of the Month, Very Important Panther, and CARE drawings. Quarterly, we award our Honor Roll members in grades 4-6. Our Kids CARE award (Character, Attitude, Responsibility, Effort) is given to those students who have shown they exhibit the qualities named in the award. Students who have achieved success in math are honored as part of our Math Club. Popsicle with the Principal encourages additional students who might not receive other honors or awards.
Participation in Student Council promotes quality leadership skills on campus and those students organize, among other things, Random Acts of Kindness Week and our Red Ribbon Week festivities, which promote our positive learning environment. Several leadership teams including: Drama Club, Kindness Team, Spirit Team, Press Club, Video Team, Service Team offer additional opportunities for student involvement.
Our reading program, Panther All Star Reading Team, promotes a love of reading for all our students. For the school year 2002-2003, our students read over one million seven hundred pages! El Portal School has twice received the Governor’s Reading Award for the continued success we have had in encouraging our students to read. Our students continue to excel in the P.A.R.T. program even though the statewide program does not exist today.
Fifth and sixth grade students participate in our annual District Academic Day of Excellence and many of our fifth grade students have participated in the Ocean Institute, an extracurricular science class. Many classroom activities and school wide spirit events also promote a learning environment we are proud of at El Portal.
Suspensions and Expulsions Data reported are the number of suspensions and expulsions (i.e., the total number of incidents that result in a suspension or expulsion). The rate of suspensions and expulsions is the total number of incidents divided by the school's total enrollment as reported by CBEDS for the given year. In unified school districts, a comparison between a particular type of school (elementary, middle, high) and the district average may be misleading. Schools have the option of comparing their data with the district-wide average for the same type of school.
School
District
2002
2003
2004
Number of Suspensions
6
19
5
51
186
254
Rate of Suspensions
.01
.04
.02
.05
.07
Number of Expulsions
Rate of Expulsions
00
.002
School Facilities Safety, cleanliness, and adequacy of school facilities, including any needed maintenance to ensure good repair. Description of the condition and cleanliness of the school grounds, buildings, and restrooms.
El Portal School has 25 classrooms, ten of which are bungalows. Primary and upper grade classrooms are separated and each has its own spacious playground area. Our three kindergarten classes have their own enclosed play area. In 2002, new upper grade playground equipment was installed which has state of the art equipment, swings, and two regulation size soccer goals. In 2004, our new primary playground equipment was installed. Student physical fitness is promoted even during playground play. We have a computer lab, used by all students, and an outside stage area as well as a multi-use room. Each classroom is equipped with a television set and we have closed circuit TV. Our office area consists of a newly renovated teacher workroom and office and a separate teacher’s lounge. Our library is a beautiful facility complete with story steps, cozy corners and study areas. Our campus has garden areas, and is clean and well manicured.
III. Academic Data Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Through the California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program, students in grades 2-11 are tested annually in various subject areas. Currently, the STAR program includes California Standards Tests (CST) and a norm-referenced test (NRT). The CST tests English-language arts and mathematics in grades 2-11, science in grades 5, 9, 10, and 11, and history-social science in grades 8, 10, and 11. The NRT tests reading, language, and mathematics in grades 2-11, spelling in grades 2-8, and science in grades 9-11. California Standards Tests (CST) The California Standards Tests (CST) show how well students are doing in relation to the state content standards. Student scores are reported as performance levels. The five performance levels are Advanced (exceeds state standards), Proficient (meets state standards), Basic (approaching state standards), Below Basic (below state standards), and Far Below Basic (well below state standards). Students scoring at the Proficient or Advanced level meet state standards in that content area. Students scoring at the Proficient or Advanced level meet state standards in that content area. Students with significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to take the CST are tested using the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA). Detailed information regarding CST and CAPA results for each grade and proficiency level can be found at the California Department of Education Web site at http://star.cde.ca.gov or by speaking with the school principal. Note: To protect student privacy, scores are not shown when the number of students tested is 10 or less. CST - All Students Data reported are the percent of students achieving at the Proficient or Advanced level (meeting or exceeding the state standards).
Subject
State
English-Language Arts
55
52
56
57
59
32
35
36
Mathematics
53
54
31
34
Science
29
30
27
25
History-Social Science
37
33
28
CST - Racial/Ethnic Groups Data reported are the percent of students achieving at the Proficient or Advanced level (meeting or exceeding the state standards).
African- American
White (not Hispanic)
65
40
70
43
62
8
CST - Subgroups Data reported are the percent of students achieving at the Proficient or Advanced level (meeting or exceeding the state standards).
Male
Female
English Learners
Economically Disadvantaged
Students With Disabilities
Migrant Education Services
Yes
No
60
17
64
21
26
14
Norm-Referenced Test (NRT) Reading and mathematics results from the California Schievement Test, Sixth Edition (CAT-6), the current NRT adopted by the State Board of Education, are reported for each grade level as the percent of tested students scoring at or above the 50th percentile (the national average). School results are compared to results at the district and state levels. The CAT-6 was adopted in 2003; therefore, no data are reported for 2002. Detailed information regarding results for each grade level can be found at the California Department of Education Web site at http://star.cde.ca.gov/ or by speaking with the school principal. Note: To protect student privacy, scores are not shown when the number of students tested is 10 or less. NRT - All Students Data reported are the percent of students scoring at or above the 50th percentile.
Reading
---
61
68
69
50
NRT - Racial/Ethnic Groups Data reported are the percent of students scoring at or above the 50th percentile.
71
100
NRT - Subgroups Data reported are the percent of students scoring at or above the 50th percentile.
16
66
63
45
Local Assessment Data reported are the percent of students meeting or exceeding the district standard.
Writing
K
80
90
95.8
94
81.3
79
3
7
9
10
11
12
California Physical Fitness Test Data reported are the percent of students meeting fitness standards (scoring in the healthy fitness zone on all six fitness standards). Detailed information regarding the California Physical Fitness Test may be found at the California Department of Education Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/. Note: To protect student privacy, scores are not shown when the number of students tested is 10 or less.
Scho