Ralston Middle School: 2005-2006 School Accountability Report Card

Executive Summary School Accountability Report Card, 2005-06

For Ralston Middle School

Address:	2675 Ralston Ave., Belmont CA 94002-1216	Phone Number:	(650) 637-4880
Principal:	Maggie O'Reilly	Grade Span:	6-8

This executive summary of the School Accountability Report Card (SARC) is intended to provide parents and community members with a quick snapshot of school accountability. The data presented in this report are reported for the 2005-06 school year, except the School Finances and School Completion data that are reported for the 2004-05 school year. For additional information about the school, parents and community members should review the entire SARC or contact the school principal or the district office.

About This School

Ralston Middle School is the cornerstone of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. Five elementary schools send their students to Ralston and, as a result, the student body is a true reflection of the diversity of this small mid-Peninsula community. With over 800 students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades, Ralston teaches students with a wide range of ability who represent a wonderful spectrum of cultures and nationalities.

Student Enrollment
Group	Enrollment
Number of Students	775
African American	3.7 %
American Indian or Alaska Native	0.4 %
Asian	17.7 %
Filipino	2.2 %
Hispanic or Latino	10.6 %
Pacific Islander	1.4 %
White (Not Hispanic)	57.8 %
Multiple or No Response	6.2 %
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	4.7 %
English Learners	3.0 %
Students with Disabilities	9.0 %

Teachers
Indicators	Teachers
Teachers With Full Credential	39
Teachers Without Full Credential	1
Teachers Teaching Outside Subject Area of Competence	9
Misassignments of Teachers of English Learners	0
Total Teacher Misassignments	0

School Facilities

Summary of Most Recent Site Inspection

Ralston facilities are maintained and cleaned to a very high standard. Ralston earns ‘in good repair’ ratings following state and county inspections.

Repairs Needed

Drinking fountains (inside and outside) need repair/replacement.

Corrective Actions Taken or Planned

The drinking fountains are in process of being ordered and replaced.

Curriculum and Instructional Materials
Core Curriculum Areas	Pupils Who Lack Textbooks and Instructional Materials
Reading/Language Arts	0 %
Mathematics	0 %
Science	0 %
History-Social Science	0 %
Foreign Language	0 %
Health	0 %

School Finances 2004-2005
Level	Expenditures Per Pupil (Unrestricted Sources Only)
School Site	$6.980
District	$7,497
State	$4,743

Student Performance
Subject	Students Proficient and Above on California Standards Tests
English-Language Arts	68
Mathematics	66
Science	59
History-Social Science	63

Academic Progress
Indicator	Result
2006 API Growth Score (from 2006 API Growth Report)	860
Statewide Rank (from 2005 API Base Report)	10
2006-07 Program Improvement Status	N/A

School Accountability Report Card
Reported for School Year 2005-06
Published During 2006-07

The School Accountability Report Card (SARC), which is required by law to be published annually, contains information about the condition and performance of each California public school. More information about SARC requirements is available at the California Department of Education (CDE) Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/. For additional information about the school, parents and community members should contact the school principal or the district office. DataQuest, an online data tool at http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/, contains additional information about this school and comparisons of the school to the district, the county, and the state.

I. About This School

Contact Information
This section provides the school's contact information.

School Information		District Information
School Name	Ralston Intermediate (Ralston Middle School)	District Name	Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary
Principal	Maggie O'Reilly	Superintendent	John McIntosh (05-06); Dr. Emerita Orta-Camilleri (06-07)
Street	2675 Ralston Ave.	Street	2960 Hallmark Dr.
City, State, Zip	Belmont, CA 94002-1216	City, State, Zip	Belmont, CA 94002-2943
Phone Number	650-637-4880	Phone Number	650-637-4800
FAX Number	650-637-4888	FAX Number	650-637-4811
Web Site	www.belmont.k12.ca.us/main/ralston/	Web Site	www.belmont.k12.ca.us
E-mail Address	Maggie O'Reilly <moreilly@belmont.k12.ca.us>	Email Address	EOrta-Camilleri@belmont.k12.ca.us
CDS Code	41-68866-6043483	SARC Contact	Jeannie Bosley jbosley@belmont.k12.ca.us

School Description and Mission Statement
This section provides information about the school's goals and programs.

The School Community

Ralston Middle School, located in the City of Belmont on the peninsula south of San Francisco, is the only middle school in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. Students in 8th grade are promoted to the Sequoia Union High School District. Most of the students from Ralston attend Carlmont High School, although some go on to private high schools or other high schools in the Sequoia High School district.

The Ralston School community consists of families for whom education is a priority. The school is the hub of the community for many of these parents. Families enthusiastically support the Parent Teacher Association, School Site Council and countless volunteer activities and projects.

Mission and Goals

Ralston Middle School provides a highly academic and nurturing environment where all students, parents and staff pursue academic excellence and participate fully in the life of the school.

The Ralston School Mission Statement, developed by staff, parents and student representatives to our School Site Council, serves as a framework for our school’s goals and priorities. This spirit of partnership pervades all that we do at Ralston.

Ralston’s primary mission is to provide a challenging instructional program that focuses on the diverse needs of middle school students. Together, as a staff and community, we have the capacity to present academic programs that are rich and compelling, supported by the structure of California State Content Standards, and the resources necessary to create student-centered classrooms. Students are engaged in a highly creative elective program that provides enrichment opportunities for all levels of learners. In addition, Ralston students score in the 90th percentile for fitness, far surpassing the average score in California.

Ralston School is characterized by:

A safe, orderly, attractive campus
A rigorous academic core curriculum
A rich elective program
A strong student support system
A wide range of extracurricular activities
A firm commitment to technology in the classroom
A dedicated and competent professional staff
A supportive and involved parent community
An energetic, enthusiastic, and highly capable student body
A deep commitment to community service

Opportunities for Parental Involvement
This section provides information about opportunities for parents to become involved with school activities.

After School Clubs
Assemblies
Career Day
Classroom field trips
8th grade graduation party
Hot Lunch Program
Magazine Drive
Monetary gifts

Multicultural Fair
Music Boosters
Parent Education
Program Development
School Dances
Spring Fling
Technology assistance

Student Enrollment by Grade Level
This table displays the number of students enrolled in each grade level at the school.

Grade Level	Number of Students	Grade Level	Number of Students
Kindergarten	0	Grade 8	249
Grade 1	0	Ungraded Elementary	0
Grade 2	0	Grade 9	0
Grade 3	0	Grade 10	0
Grade 4	0	Grade 11	0
Grade 5	0	Grade 12	0
Grade 6	233	Ungraded Secondary	0
Grade 7	293	Total Enrollment	775

Student Enrollment by Group
This table displays the percent of students enrolled at the school who are identified as being in a particular group.

Group	Percent of Total Enrollment	Group	Percent of Total Enrollment
African American	3.7	White (not Hispanic)	57.8
American Indian or Alaska Native	0.4	Multiple or No Response	6.2
Asian	17.7	Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	4.7
Filipino	2.2	English Learners	3.0
Hispanic or Latino	10.6	Students with Disabilities	9.0
Pacific Islander	1.4	---	---

Average Class Size and Class Size Distribution (Secondary)
This table displays by subject area the average class size and the number of classrooms that fall into each size category (a range of total students per classroom).

Subject	2003-04				2004-05				2005-06
	Avg. Class Size	Number of Classrooms			Avg. Class Size	Number of Classrooms			Avg. Class Size	Number of Classrooms
	Avg. Class Size	1-20	21-32	33+	Avg. Class Size	1-20	21-32	33+	Avg. Class Size	1-20	21-32	33+
English	23.8	15	32	1	21.7	26	24		21.8	16	30
Mathematics	24.7	8	23		23.9	9	24	1	23.4	11	22
Science	26.1	2	30		27.2	3	30		26.3		30
Social Science	25.6	4	27		25.8	5	26	1	25.7	4	26

Participation in the Class Size Reduction Program
This table displays the percent of students in kindergarten trough grade 3 who were assigned to a classroom that participated in the Class Size Reduction Program.

This section does not apply because Ralston is a middle school (grades 6-8).

II. School Climate

School Safety Plan
This section provides information about the school's comprehensive safety plan.

Date of Last Review/Update

January 2006

Date Last Discussed with Staff

February 2006

In order to provide students with a safe school that maintains a positive climate for learning, Ralston Middle School staff has a multifaceted approach to safety.

The Board of Trustees Board Policy requires the school to maintain an updated Disaster Preparedness plan, which covers emergencies such as earthquakes, fire, bomb threats, or other disturbances. The plan includes emergency phone numbers, roles for staff members, and procedures to ensure student safety. An outbuilding, which contains emergency supplies, has been equipped and maintained by the PTA. During 2005-06, food supplies and water were re-placed. Ralston staff members participate in the Belmont Safe Schools program, attending meetings and taking part in simulations to develop and keep our safety plans current. A School Resource Officer from the Belmont Police Department works with the school's administration to maintain a safe and secure campus. Emergency Response lists and Emergency phone trees are updated yearly.

Students are advised of the Sexual Harassment policy and the policy regarding bullying, in order to prevent incidents and keep the school emotionally safe for all. Staff members regularly address issues of concern about bullying. A Peer Mediation program allows students to find alternatives to violence, and a Safe Schools Ambassadors program helps all students understand and value a variety of cultures.

School Discipline Practices
This section provides information about the school's efforts to create and maintain a positive learning environment, including the school's use of disciplinary strategies.

Ralston students experience a six period day, but are enrolled in seven classes. Each day, one period is dropped, which provides four class meetings per week, with slightly extended class periods. Wednesday’s are district-wide minimum days. The afternoons are devoted to SST’s, IEP’s, staff development training, curriculum development and department meetings. The staff continues to expand standards-based lessons, activities and assessments for all core curricular areas.

Suspensions and Expulsions
This table displays the rate of suspensions and expulsions (the total number of incidents divided by the total enrollment) at the school and district levels for the most recent three-year period.

Rate	School			District
Rate	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Suspensions	2.8%	1.88%	14.19%	1.38%	.94%	4.83%
Expulsions	.04%	1.41%	.26%	.04%	.49%	.08%

III. School Facilities

School Facility Conditions and Improvements
This section provides information about the condition of the school's grounds, buildings, and restrooms, and a description of any planned or recently completed facility improvements.

Age of Buildings: This school has 46 classrooms, a music room, a library, a multipurpose room, a gymnasium, girls’ and boys’ locker rooms, and administrative offices (in 2005-2006). The main buildings were constructed in 1954, and modernized in 2003. Four portable classrooms were installed on the campus in 2000.

Cleaning Standards: The District has adopted cleaning standards for each school, and a copy of these is available in the principal’s office. The principal works daily with the custodial staff to develop and implement cleaning practices that ensure a clean and safe school campus.

Maintenance and Repair: District maintenance staff, assisted as necessary by outside contractors, keep the school in good repair. Work orders are completed in a timely manner, and tracked on a computerized system of record keeping, which also allows priority to be assigned to emergency repairs.

Complaints and Reports of Conditions Requiring Remedy: Each classroom contains a notice regarding the availability of complaint or report of unsafe condition forms, which can be found in the principal’s office. The District uses the Uniform Complaint Process (per Board Policy) in responding to all filed complaints.

Of the 40 classrooms at Ralston during the 2005-2006 school year, 34 classrooms are used for regular instruction. Specialized classrooms are available for science, computer lab, industrial technology, culinary arts, and music. In addition, there are two new Science buildings that house 4 labs for 7th and 8th grades, and a new gymnasium.

Many classrooms have computer banks for up to 10 students. Every classroom has at least two computers connected to the Internet. The library is equipped with 13 computers with Internet access for student use and 5 for teacher use. Three classrooms are equipped as multimedia classrooms. In the spring of 1998, Ralston Middle School was awarded a Sun Microsystems Java grant for $100,000 of equipment and technology training. During the 2004-05 school year, PTA purchased 25 classroom computers.

In September 1998 every teacher in the District received a computer for both instruction and classroom management. Every staff member received mandated technology training. Every staff member was provided a telephone number and voice mailbox.

School Facility Conditions Good Repair Status
This table displays the results of the most recently completed school site inspection to determine the school facility's good repair status.

Item Inspected	Facility in Good Repair		Repair Needed and Action Taken or Planned
Item Inspected	Yes	No	Repair Needed and Action Taken or Planned
Gas Leaks	X
Mechanical Systems	X
Windows/Doors/Gates (interior and exterior)	X
Interior Surfaces (walls, floors, and ceilings)	X
Hazardous Materials (interior and exterior)	X
Structural Damage	X
Fire Safety	X
Electrical (interior and exterior)	X
Pest/Vermin Infestation	X
Drinking Fountains (inside and outside)		X	In process of repairing / replacing
Restrooms	X
Sewer	X
Playground/School Grounds	X
Other

IV. Teachers
Teacher Credentials
This table displays the number of teachers assigned to the school with a full credential, without a full credential, and those teaching outside of their subject area of competence. Detailed information about teacher qualifications can be found at the CDE Web site at http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/.

Teachers	School			District
Teachers	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2005-06
With Full Credential	44	42	39	137
Without Full Credential	2	1	1	1
Teaching Outside Subject Area of Competence	4	7	9	9

Teacher Misassignments and Vacant Teacher Positions
This table displays the number of teacher misassignments (teachers assigned without proper legal authorization) and the number of vacant teacher positions (not filled by a single designated teacher assigned to teach the entire course at the beginning of the school year or semester). Note: Total Teacher Misassignments includes the number of Misassignments of Teachers of English Learners.

Indicator	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07
Misassignments of Teachers of English Learners	0	0	0
Total Teacher Misassignments	0	0	0
Vacant Teacher Positions	0	0	0

Core Academic Classes Taught by NCLB Compliant Teachers
This table displays the percent of classes in core academic subjects taught by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) compliant and non-NCLB compliant teachers at the school, at all schools in the district, at high-poverty schools in the district, and at low-poverty schools in the district. More information on teacher qualifications required under NCLB can be found at http://www.cde.ca.gov/nclb/sr/tq/.

Location of Classes	Percent of Classes In Core Academic Subjects
Location of Classes	Taught by NCLB Compliant Teachers	Taught by Non-NCLB Compliant Teachers
This School	100.0	0.0
All Schools in District	100.0	0.0
High-Poverty Schools in District	0.0	0.0
Low-Poverty Schools in District	100.0	0.0

Substitute Teacher Availability
This section provides information about the availability of qualified substitute teachers and the impact of any difficulties in this area on the school's instructional program.

Qualified substitute teachers are available when school personnel are absent. Substitute teachers are required to have a bachelors degree and pass the CBEST test.

Teacher Evaluation Process
This section provides information about the procedures and the criteria for teacher evaluations.

The Belmont-Redwood Shores School District Teacher Evaluation is based on the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP). These standards are included in the evaluation process as a way of helping teachers reflect on their teaching, assessing their strengths and areas of growth, and to help move their teaching practice to a deeper level.

V. Support Staff

Academic Counselors and Other Support Staff
This table displays, in units of full-time equivalents (FTE), the number of academic counselors and other support staff who are assigned to the school and the average number of students per academic counselor. One FTE equals one staff member working full time; one FTE could also represent two staff members who each work 50 percent of full time.

Title	Number of FTE Assigned to School	Average Number of Students per Academic Counselor
Academic Counselor	1.0
Library Media Teacher (Librarian)		---
Library Media Services Staff (paraprofessional)	1.0	---
Psychologist		---
Social Worker		---
Nurse	on call	---
Speech/Language/Hearing Specialist		---
Resource Specialist (non-teaching)		---
Other (Inclusion aide and Paraprofessionals)	.2	---

VI. Curriculum and Instructional Materials

Quality, Currency, and Availability of Textbooks and Instructional Materials
This table displays information about the quality, currency, and availability of the standards-aligned textbooks and other instructional materials used at the school, and information about the school's use of any supplemental curriculum or non-adopted textbooks or instructional materials.

Core Curriculum Area	Quality, Currency, and Availability of Textbooks and Instructional Materials	Percent of Pupils Who Lack Their Own Assigned Textbooks and Instructional Materials
Reading/Language Arts	Prentice Hall: Literature, California Edition 2002-2003 McDougal Littell: The Language of Literature 2002-2003	0%
Mathematics	McDougal Littell: Concepts and Skills 2002-2003 McDougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin: Geometry 2002-2003	0%
Science	Prentice Hall, FOSS 2001-2002	0%
History-Social Science	6: Houghton Mifflin: Social Studies: A Message of Ancient Days 1999-2000 7: Houghton Mifflin: Social Studies: Across the Centuries 1999-2000 8: Glenco/McGraw-Hill: The American Journey: Building a Nation 1999-2000 Note: New standards based textbooks will be adopted in 2006 – 2007	0%
Health		0%

VII. School Finances

Expenditures Per Pupil and School Site Teacher Salaries (Fiscal Year 2004-05)
This table displays a comparison of the school's per pupil expenditures from unrestricted (basic) sources with other schools in the district and throughout the state, and a comparison of the average teacher salary at the school site with average teacher salaries at the district and state levels. Detailed information regarding salaries can be found at the CDE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/fd/ec/ and http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/fd/cs/.

Level	Total Expenditures Per Pupil	Expenditures Per Pupil (Supplemental)	Expenditures Per Pupil (Basic)	Average Teacher Salary
School Site	$8,403	$1.423	$6.980	$65,043
District	---	---	$7,497	$63,976
Percent Difference - School Site and District	---	---	93%	102%
State	---	---	$4,743	$56,471
Percent Difference - School Site and State	---	---	147%	115%

Types of Services Funded
This section provides information about the programs and supplemental services that are available at the school and funded through either categorical or other sources.

Regular Education
After School Sports
API donations
Class Size Reduction
Community Day School
Governor's Performance Awards
Guidance
Homework Centers
Music
Outdoor Education
Summer School
School Force
Local Grants

Special Education

Home to School Transportation
County Sp Ed
Psychologists
Speech
SP Ed IDEA
RSP, SDC & NPS

Teachers
Classified Staff
Benefits
Books & Supplies
Dist Block Grant
Drug Free/Title IV
ELLP
Equipment
Food Services
Health Services
Teacher Quality
Title I
Title II
Title III
Title III not LEA
Title V
Title VI
School Safety Violence Prevention
Services
National Board Certified Teachers
BTSA
Staff Development

ACSD Grant
Arts Ed Partnership
Classroom Library
EIA
Ed. Tech
GATE
Instructional Materials
Instructional Mat/Staff Buyout
IMFRP
Lottery Prop 20
Miller Unruh
Oracle Grant
Public School Library
School Safety
SIP
Standards Based
Tobacco Use Preventions Education
Tolerance Ed
TUPE Elementary

Teacher and Administrative Salaries (Fiscal Year 2004-05)
This table displays district-level salary information for teachers, principals, and superintendents, and compares these figures to the state averages for districts of the same type and size. The table also displays teacher and administrative salaries as a percent of a district's budget, and compares these figures to the state averages for districts of the same type and size. Detailed information regarding salaries can be found at the CDE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/fd/cs/ and http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/salaries0405.asp.

Category	District Amount	State Average For Districts In Same Category
Beginning Teacher Salary	$33,508	$37,797
Mid-Range Teacher Salary	$62,031	$57,601
Highest Teacher Salary	$80,120	$71,233
Average Principal Salary (Elementary)	$114,465	$88,676
Average Principal Salary (Middle)	$118,950	$91,944
Average Principal Salary (High)		$81,156
Superintendent Salary	$144,067	$127,179
Percent of Budget for Teacher Salaries	38.9	42.1
Percent of Budget for Administrative Salaries	8.0	5.8

VIII. Student Performance

California Standards Tests
The California Standards Tests (CST) show how well students are doing in relation to the state content standards. The CSTs include English-language arts and mathematics in grades 2 through 11; science in grades 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11; and history-social science in grades 8, 10, and 11. Student scores are reported as performance levels. Detailed information regarding CST results for each grade and proficiency level, including the percent of students not tested, can be found at the CDE Web site at http://star.cde.ca.gov. Note: To protect student privacy, scores are not shown when the number of students tested is 10 or less.

CST Results for All Students -- Three-Year Comparison
This table displays the percent of students achieving at the Proficient or Advanced level (meeting or exceeding the state standards).

Subject	School			District			State
Subject	2004	2005	2006	2004	2005	2006	2004	2005	2006
English-Language Arts	58	66	68	57	65	70	36	40	42
Mathematics	57	60	66	60	66	73	34	38	40
Science			59	49	49	59	25	27	35
History-Social Science	49	49	63	49	48	63	29	32	33

CST Results by Student Group - Most Recent Year
This table displays the percent of students, by group, achieving at the Proficient or Advanced level (meeting or exceeding the state standards) for the most recent testing period.

Group	Percent of Students Scoring at Proficient or Advanced
Group	English- Language Arts	Mathematics	Science	History- Social Science
African American	35	19	31	38
American Indian or Alaska Native	*	*	*	*
Asian	86	88	81	86
Filipino	50	47	*	*
Hispanic or Latino	41	41	42	31
Pacific Islander	31	31	*	*
White (Not Hispanic)	72	70	60	69
Male	64	67	61	65
Female	72	65	56	62
Economically Disadvantaged	19	19	15	15
English Learners	26	42	*	*
Students with Disabilities	21	29	16	26
Students Receiving Migrant Education Services

Norm-Referenced Test (NRT)
The norm-referenced test (NRT), currently the California Achievement Test, Sixth Edition (CAT/6), shows how well students are doing compared to students nationally in reading, language, spelling, and mathematics in grades 3 and 7 only. The results are reported as the percent of tested students scoring at or above the national average (the 50th percentile). Detailed information regarding NRT results for each grade level can be found at the CDE Web site at http://star.cde.ca.gov/. Note: To protect student privacy, scores are not shown when the number of students tested is 10 or less.

NRT Results for All Students -- Three Year Comparison
This table displays the percent of students scoring at or above the national average (the 50th percentile) in reading and mathematics.

Subject	School			District			State
Subject	2004	2005	2006	2004	2005	2006	2004	2005	2006
Reading	72	72	71	65	67	68	43	41	42
Mathematics	72	69	72	73	74	75	51	52	53

NRT Results by Student Group -- Most Recent Year
This table displays the percent of students, by group, scoring at or above the national average (the 50th percentile) in reading and mathematics for the most recent testing period.

Group	Percent of Students Scoring at or Above the National Average
Group	Reading	Mathematics
African American	*	*
American Indian or Alaska Native	*	*
Asian	87	96
Filipino	*	*
Hispanic or Latino	50	40
Pacific Islander	*	*
White (not Hispanic)	75	76
Male	71	75
Female	72	69
Economically Disadvantaged	*	*
English Learners	18	36
Students with Disabilities	17	25
Students Receiving Migrant Education Services

Local Assessment Results
Districts may choose to administer their own academic assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics. In such cases, this table displays the percent of students, by grade level and subject area, meeting or exceeding the district standard.

District Writing Assessment

Spring 2006

Grades 2 - 6

Second Grade		Third Grade		Fourth Grade		Fifth Grade		Sixth Grade
To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std
146	86	165	91	117	116	133	101	70	132

63%	37%	64%	36%	50%	50%	57%	43%	35%	65%

District Math Assessment

End of Year 2006

Grades K - 5

Kindergarten		First Grade		Second Grade		Third Grade		Fourth Grade		Fifth Grade
To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std	To Standard	Not Yet to Std
261	17	247	23	176	19	241	20	205	30	174	61

93%	7%	91%	9%	90%	10%	92%	8%	88%	12%	74%	26%

California Physical Fitness Test Results
The California Physical Fitness Test is administered to students in grades 5, 7, and 9 only. This table displays by grade level the percent of students meeting fitness standards (scoring in the healthy fitness zone on all six fitness standards) for the most recent testing period. Detailed information regarding the California Physical Fitness Test, and comparisons of a school's test results to the district and state levels, can be found at the CDE 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.

Grade Level	Percent of Students Meeting Fitness Standards
5	N/A
7	91%
9	N/A

IX. Accountability

Academic Performance Index

The Academic Performance Index (API) is an annual measure of the academic performance and progress of schools in California. API scores range from 200 to 1,000, with a statewide target of 800. Detailed information about the API can be found at the CDE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/.

API Ranks -- Three-Year Comparison
This table displays the school's statewide and similar schools API ranks. The statewide API rank ranges from 1 to 10. A statewide rank of 1 means that the school has an API score in the lowest 10 percent of all schools in the state, while a statewide rank of 10 means that the school has an API score in the highest 10 percent of all schools in the state. The similar schools API rank reflects how a school compares to 100 statistically matched "similar schools." A similar schools rank of 1 means that the school's academic performance is comparable to the lowest performing 10 schools of the 100 similar schools, while a similar schools rank of 10 means that the school's academic performance is better than at least 90 of the 100 similar schools.

API Rank	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Statewide	9	9	10
Similar Schools	8	2	5

API Changes by Student Group -- Three Year Comparison
This table displays, by student group, the actual API changes in points added or lost for the past three years, and the most recent API score. Note: "N/A" means that the student group is not numerically significant.

Group	Actual API Change			API Score
Group	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006
All Students at the School	9	35	13	860
African American
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian	14	21	12	947
Filipino
Hispanic or Latino
Pacific Islander
White (not Hispanic)	-2	50	19	878
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged
English Learners	--	--
Students with Disabilities	--	--

State Award and Intervention Programs
This section will contain information about the school's participation in various state intervention and award programs only to the extent these programs were funded for the period addressed by this report.

Ralston received the “Best of California Student Media/Multi-Media Presentation” for their Prisoner of Azkaban project.

Ralston participates in the following intervention programs:

AVID
Safe School Ambassadors
Peer Counseling
Challenge Day
Oracle ELL Grant
Sun Microsystems Technology Grant

Adequate Yearly Progress
The federal NCLB act requires that all schools and districts meet the following Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) criteria:

Participation rate on the state's standards-based assessments in English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics
Percent proficient on the state's standards-based assessments in ELA and mathematics
API as an additional indicator
Graduation rate (for secondary schools)

Detailed information about AYP, including participation rates and percent proficient results by student group, can be found at the CDE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ay/.

AYP Overall and by Criteria
This table displays an indication of whether the school and the district made AYP overall and whether the school and the district met each of the AYP criteria.

AYP Criteria	School	District
Overall	Yes	Yes
Participation Rate - English-Language Arts	Yes	Yes
Participation Rate - Mathematics	Yes	Yes
Percent Proficient - English-Language Arts	Yes	Yes
Percent Proficient - Mathematics	Yes	Yes
API	Yes	Yes
Graduation Rate	N/A	N/A

Federal Intervention Program
Schools and districts receiving federal Title I funding enter Program Improvement (PI) if they do not make AYP for two consecutive years in the same content area (English-language arts or mathematics) or on the same indicator (API or graduation rate). After entering PI, schools and districts advance to the next level of intervention with each additional year that they do not make AYP. Detailed information about PI identification can be found at the CDE Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ay/.

Indicator	School	District
Program Improvement Status	N/A	N/A
First Year of Program Improvement Implementation	N/A	N/A
Year in Program Improvement	---	---
Number of Schools Currently in Program Improvement	---	0
Percent of Schools Currently in Program Improvement	---	0.0

X. School Completion and Postsecondary Preparation

No data are available for this section (Ralston is a middle school).

XI. Instructional Planning and Scheduling

School Instruction and Leadership
This section provides information about the structure of the school's instructional program and the experience of the school's leadership team.

Course of Study

English/Language Arts

Mathematics

Science

History/Social Science

Visual and Performing Arts

Physical Education

Health

Enrichment/Elective classes, such as

Animation

Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Guitar, Drama

Cooking/Culinary Arts

Industrial Technology (1 & 2), Space Design and Construction

Computer Literacy, Web Page Design

Spanish (1 & 2)

Journalism, Creative Writing

Instruction and Support for Special Needs

Programs for students with specialized needs have been scheduled in order to provide an in-depth program for all students.

Support for special needs of students begins with Student Study Teams who, meeting regularly, develop strategies to help students become more successful in school. They coordinate school resources and services which include:

Referral for Special Education Assessment

English Language Learners Program

Family Counselor services

State SIP (School Improvement Program) funds

Special Education programs

School Psychologist services

School Site Leadership

Ralston’s principal, assistant principal, and dean, regularly confer with teachers and other staff about operational and instructional issues. They use an open and participatory management style. Staff members are involved in planning, reviewing and modifying instructional programs for the coming year. Teachers develop curriculum to implement the District and State standards, discussing use of best practices and appropriate materials. The principal has received training from the California School Leadership Academy and from the Principal’s Institute of the Association of California School Administrators in leadership strategies for implementing sound instructional practices.

Instructional Staff Qualifications

All teachers are credentialed by the State of California. All Ralston teachers have completed graduate work.

All substitutes used by Ralston School have passed a qualifying examination administered by the State of California. When a teacher is absent from class, a qualified substitute teacher teaches the class. If a substitute is not available, the class is taught by a credentialed district administrator or a teacher without a regular class assignment. Last year, teachers averaged about 1.4 days of absence per month. This included illness, in-service training, and other leaves.

Student/Teacher Ratio

At Ralston, the average class size is 28. 6th through 8th grades are staffed at a ratio of 26.5 to 1. With rare exceptions, classes do not exceed 28. Music classes range from 30 to 45; Physical Education classes range from 30 to 45 students. Resource Specialist classes are limited to 12. Elective class sizes are appropriate to the content. Through SIP funds, a technology aide is provided for the computer lab.

Professional Development
This section provides information about the program for training the school's teachers and other professional staff.

Staff development activities are determined through a process which begins with the staff identifying needs that are related to the goals identified in the School Improvement Plan. District-wide needs identified through the “Futures” planning process are also incorporated into the plans for staff development.. During minimum days on Wednesday’s, teachers received training in:

Mathematics
Grade Level Teaming
Implementing standards in each Content Area
Curriculum and Instructional Practices
Integrating Technology
Review of state testing data

Individual staff members also participated in additional workshops and training in these areas.

Instructional Minutes
This table displays a comparison of the number of instructional minutes offered at the school to the state requirement for each grade level.

Grade Level	Instructional Minutes
Grade Level	Offered	State Requirement
6	59,940	54,000
7	59,940	54,000
8	59,940	54,000

Minimum Days in School Year
This section provides information about the total number of days in the most recent school year that students attended school on a shortened day schedule and the reasons for the shortened day schedule.

Ralston had 6 minimum days during 2005-2006. These were use for parent conferences and the last day of school.