Simi Valley Unified School District students continue to show gains in their standardized testing scores, with all but three of 29 schools in the district improving this year.

The California Department of Education released the results from the state’s Academic Performance Index (API) last week. The index, initiated by 2002’s No Child Left Behind Act, measures student proficiency in a variety of subjects.

The state’s goal is for every school to reach an 800 score. If they haven’t yet attained that score, they must meet certain yearly growth targets or face placement into a remedial program.

All secondary schools in the district improved their scores and, as Superintendent Kathryn Scroggin pointed out, the three elementary schools that didn’t improve still scored well over 800.

Scroggin said the scores were “very positive.”

Simi Elementary students had the greatest increase, reaching and handily surpassing the state goal for the first time by adding 65 points to their 2008 score. Simi jumped from a 790 to an 855.

Susan Koch is principal of Simi Elementary, the district’s oldest school.

“We’re feeling very proud of our students,” Koch said. “Our teachers worked very hard with specific goals and academic language. We are using a (program) for the students—it’s a daily review of math skills. We feel targeting those things really helped, and we want to repeat that.”

Koch said there is some trepidation about the school’s big leap, as it makes it difficult to keep improving.

“It is concerning,” she said. “We want to keep it high. It’s going to be hard work, but we’re ready for the challenge.”

Berylwood Elementary scored a 762, adding 44 points to their 2008 score.

A Title I school, Berylwood has used its government funding to hire teachers specifically to work with students who test at low levels in English and language arts, said Principal Nidia GrijalvaImbler. Reading comprehension is a big focus, she added.

“The staff is doing a great job of focusing on the standards,” GrijalvaImbler said. “We are identifying areas of need and then filling those gaps. It took a lot of hard work on the part of the teachers, and we have a great parent community. It’s rewarding to see that growth.”

But GrijalvaImbler was cautious about the work ahead.

“We’re going to enjoy it for a few days, but the year is young,” she said. “There’s a lot of work to do, but it’s good to know we are doing something right. It’s going to be a great year.”

Thirteen of the district’s 21 elementary schools have reached the 800 mark, and five are over 900. Vista Fundamental School was the highest scoring API school in all of Ventura County, recording a 952 out of a possible 1,000 on the index.

All three middle schools scored above 800, and at the high school level, Santa Susana scored an 822, Simi Valley a 793 and Royal a 782.

Federal targets set by the No Child Left Behind Act will increase each year until 2014, when 100 percent of students are expected to test as “proficient” or “advanced” in math and language arts.

“The bar will be set even higher this year,” Scroggin said. “I’m confident that we’ll help students reach even higher goals in 2009-10.”

The district’s overall score grew 14 points, from 804 to 818. School board president Eric Lundstrom called the scores a “great improvement.”

Board member Janice DiFatta emphasized the effort of the entire school community.

“Congratulations to all the parents, students, teachers and support staff who are helping our schools reach a higher level of success,” she said.