• API Increases: Across the board, Sweetwater schools have made dramatic gains in the state’s Academic Performance Index—the state measure of schools’ academic growth. Systematic growth over the last four years shows significant improvement—18 schools have increased their API. And 15 schools have met their schoolwide growth targets. Southwest High raised its score 117 points over four years—the highest gain among district high schools. And Castle Park Middle leveraged its score to 155 points over four years, ranking highest among district middle schools. In fact, our newest middle school, EastLake Middle has broken the 800 barrier. And three high schools-Bonita Vista, EastLake and Hilltop high schools-have qualified and applied for the California School Recognition Program or Distinguished Schools award.

• UC/CSU Qualifications: For the last two years, one of every three district graduates has met the rigorous “a-g” admission requirements for University of California and California State University campuses. The number of UC/CSU-qualified students has nearly doubled over the last five years.

• Program Distinction: The California School Board Association’s Golden Bell program recognizes innovative instructional programs and partnerships. The California School Boards Association awarded two more Golden Bells to the district in 2004, bringing the district total to 19. The Compact for Success was honored for innovation and effort in preparing students for college. The Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Program's focus on reducing the birth rate among Hispanic teens also caught the eye of Golden Bell award judges.

• WASC Accreditation: All district high schools earned full six-year approval from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation review because of the quality educational programs offered. And for the second time in district history, all schools supported each other by conducting the self-study during the same year.

• National Recognition: Three Sweetwater high schools—Bonita Vista, Southwest and Sweetwater—made the pages of Newsweek magazine where they were ranked among the top 4% of high schools in the nation.

• Demonstration Sites: Southwest Middle has been chosen as an AVID Demonstration Program for exemplary success in helping underachieving students improve academically. This middle school joins Mar Vista High, Southwest High and Eastlake High who are already model AVID program sites.

• Math Achievement Gap: In a historic move, all 42 school districts in San Diego County have signed a compact that guarantees that every high school student in the county will pass the math portion of the California High School Exit exam by the year 2006. The landmark agreement, known as the CAHSEE Compact, was spearheaded by Sweetwater Superintendent Edward Brand and targets mathematics because of the difference in achievement between Asians, Latinos and African-American students.

• Improved School Attendance: With more than 96% of Sweetwater District students attending school every day, the district has one of the highest attendance rates of any secondary district in California.

• Academic Success: For the fifth consecutive year, Sweetwater has been the champion district in San Diego County’s Academic Decathlon student competition. In fact, six of the top 10 schools hail from the Sweetwater District.

• Model State ESL Program: The District’s Adult Education Division’s English as a Second Language program has earned a Program of Excellence honor—one of only nine honorees and one of only two ESL programs in the state to earn the distinction.

• Latino Achievement Gap Narrows: Of 39,000 students in grades seven through 12, Latinos comprise 69% of the student population, and have benefited from the districts’ reform efforts. Students are taking more college-preparation courses—and the Advanced Placement rate has doubled in recent years.