CUSD Weekly Update
Volume 1, Number 3
On behalf of the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees and Superintendent Joseph M. Farley, Ed. D., here is the latest issue of the CUSD Weekly Update.
Best regards,
Marcus E. Walton
Chief Communications Officer
www.capousd.org
District API Increases by Six Points
Students in the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) remain the highest scoring among the state’s large school districts, results from the state accountability system released this week by State Superintendent Jack O’Connell show. The District’s Academic Performance Index (API) rose to 862, a six-point increase from 2009. Each of the 54 schools has an API above 750 and 91 percent have a score above the state-mandated target of 800. Across the state, just 46 percent of schools have reached that mark.
20 Students Named National Merit Semifinalists
Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) can boast 20 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists, making the students eligible for thousands in college money and placing them in the top one percent of seniors who took the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
The list of CUSD semifinalists include:
ALISO NIGUEL H. S.
Dutt, Meghan
Kim, Samuel
Lee, Young M.
Song, David B.
CAPISTRANO VALLEY H. S.
Chen, Rosaline Y.
Hemmel, Mason Z.
Hoang, Alan M.
Park, Erica E.
Tian, Karen J.
Wu, Joseph H.
DANA HILLS H. S.
Anderson, Alexandria L.
Cheng, Stephanie M.
Dudani, Salil H.
Medhekar, Sachin
SAN CLEMENTE H. S.
Hatoff, Quinn
Zhang, Yanchen
TESORO H. S.
Cho, Jiyoon
Crommett, Caitlin C.
Nathan, Ahdiv H.
Verghese, Maryann
To reach the finals, students must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by their principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. The student and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes an essay and information about the student’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.
Approximately 15,000 students will become finalists, who are then eligible to become National Merit Scholarship winners. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
Last year, seven CUSD students were named National Merit Scholars.
CVHS Theater Schedule Accelerated
The $12.7 million performing arts center at Capistrano Valley High School will be completed two months ahead of schedule thanks to an accelerated bid timeline released by district officials. Bidding to build the two-story, 27,760 square foot building will open on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees is expected to award the bid at a special board meeting on Oct. 26.
Trustees Vote to End Membership in CSBA
CUSD Trustees voted this week to end the district’s membership in the California School Boards Association effective July 1, 2011. CSBA’s executive director resigned earlier this month following a pay and fiscal scandal. The district’s annual membership fee was $16,972.
Community Roots Charter School Approved
The Board approved the Community Roots Academy’s charter petition for a three-year period beginning in 2011-12. The K-8 school will emphasize “project-based” learning, an educational method that emphasizes long-term projects and small group work. The school plans to educate about 370 students when it reaches full capacity. The district has three other charter schools, Journey School, Capistrano Connections Academy and Opportunities for Learning.
Capistrano Unified School District
33122 Valle Road,
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Telephone (949) 234-9308 / FAX (949) 496-7681
Marcus E. Walton
Chief Communications Officer
www.capousd.org
