By Timithie NORMAN

The Glendale Unified School District released its 2012 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) results last week, drawing attention to notable five-year gains at the elementary and middle school levels.

In La Crescenta, Dunsmore Elementary School saw a 6.3 percent increase in the number of students testing “at or above proficient levels” in English Language Arts. Clark Magnet High School had a 9.5 percent increase in “at or above proficient levels” in math.

“I am extremely proud of our students at Dunsmore,” said principal Karen Stegman. “They all worked hard last year, specifically on reading comprehension and doing their best in whatever they do.”

To build on that success, Dunsmore has adopted an instructional focus for 2012-2013 that emphasizes reading comprehension.

“Teachers used a variety of targeted differentiation strategies within the classroom to help students meet standards,” Stegman explained. “Some students who needed additional assistance worked with their teacher before or after school.”

The extra effort has paid off. La Crescenta schools typically score the highest in the school district, with over 90 percent of Monte Vista Elementary students scoring at least “proficient” in mathematics and almost 90 percent of Mountain Avenue Elementary and Rosemont Middle School students scoring at least “proficient” in English Language Arts.

The GUSD release explained that “achievement gaps continue to exist within our schools.” Elementary and middle school students generally show higher proficiency rates than high school students, something that is an “area of concern” for the district and will help shape curriculum development in the coming 2012-2013 school year.

Across Los Angeles County, 54.4 percent of students grades 2 through 11 scored at or above proficient in English Language Arts, while only 49.4 percent in grades 2 through 7 were at or above proficient in mathematics.

  Timithie NORMAN