STAR Testing Program

Students in grades 2 to 6 are tested annually in reading, mathematics, language, and spelling, with the addition of a writing test in fourth grade and a science test in fifth grade.

The STAR testing includes two components: the CAT-6 test (California Achievement Test, Sixth Edition), which is a nationally normed achievement test designated by the State Board of Education, and the California Standards Test. The CAT-6 is a survey test that allows a comparison of student achievement in California with students across the country. The California Standards Tests assesses the students’ skills on items that are aligned with the state content standards in language arts, mathematics, and writing. California's standards are reportedly more rigorous than the typical national curriculum.

Each year, approximately 90% of Cold Spring School's students score at the Proficient or Advanced Levels set by the State.

API Growth Report

The Academic Performance Index (API) has been the centerpiece of the statewide accountability system in California public education, but this year the API will be incorporated into the Three-Phase AYP report. The API is a composite score of the CAT-6 and the content standards assessments with a greater weight given to some areas over others. The scores range from 200 to 1000. The state's goal is for each school to score at or above an API of 800.

For 2007,  Cold Spring School's Growth API is 962, an 4 point growth from the Base Report last spring.  For the fifth consectutive year, Cold Spring School has the highest API score of all Santa Barbara County  public schools!

For more information on Cold Spring School STAR testing, download the following document.

About_STAR_Testing

API_History_of_Scores