Students who attend California public schools recently received their STAR test results in the mail. The report explains how to interpret scores and reminds parents that STAR tests are only one indicator of their student’s overall academic prowess.

But did you know that every California public school also receives a test score? The Academic Performance Index (API) measures schools on a 1,000-point scale, establishes targets for future academic improvement, and drives the state’s system of school rewards and sanctions.

The STAR test glossary specifies, “The API measures a school’s change in test achievement and progress toward a target API of 800. The API ranks school performance, sets growth targets, and provides similar-school comparisons. It is the cornerstone of the Public Schools Accountability Act. The STAR and CAHSEE tests constitute the basis of API.”

If you’re interested in how your school performed, or would like to compare your school’s API score against other California schools, we recommend the free performance-data search tool on the Ed-Data website.