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Data obtained by LA School Report show how each LA Unified high school’s scores on the state standardized tests improved or declined over the past two years.

The district overall showed a 3 percentage point increase in math scores and a 6 percentage point increase in English language arts test scores. The improvements came along with increases statewide in the second year of the new assessments, which are aligned with the Common Core State Standards.

Sylmar Charter High School ranked seventh among high schools in its improvements on math tests, despite a well-publicized lunchtime brawl that fell during testing. On the tests taken this spring, 27 percent of Sylmar students met or exceeded standards. The previous year, 12 percent of Sylmar students met or exceeded standards. Read how data analysis and a new collaborative effort led to success.

Here are the top 10 high schools that showed the highest improvements on the math tests. The data do not include independent charter schools.

• Venice High School improved by 29 percentage points for students who met or exceeded standards.
•  Middle College High School improved by 20 percentage points.
•  Downtown Business Magnet improved by 17 percentage points.
• Chatsworth Charter High School improved by 17 percentage points.
• Academy of Scientific Exploration at Cesar Chavez Learning Academies improved by 17 percentage points.
• Solis Learning Academy improved by 16 percentage points.
• Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets: Health and Sports Medicine improved by 15 percentage points.
• Sylmar Charter High School improved by 15 percentage points.
• Reseda High School improved by 15 percentage points.
• Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy improved by 15 percentage points.

At Venice High School and Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets: Health and Sports Medicine, the data showed that there was a large increase in the number of students who took the test this year compared to the previous year.

At Venice, 77 students took the math test in 2015 compared to 359 students this year. At WESM, 132 students took the math test in 2015 and 288 students took the test this year.

Venice High School Principal Oryla Wiedoeft said about 80 percent of students opted not to take the test last year, but the school had a much higher level of participation this year after an effort by administrators and teachers to get the students to see the value in taking the test and doing their best. 

Of the 112 high schools included in the data, 77 schools improved in math scores by at least 1 percentage point compared to 2015. Thirty-three schools showed no improvement or test scores declined; 2015 test results for two schools were not available.

Habor Teacher Preparation Academy was the top-performing school on the math test this year among all district high schools: 80 percent of the school’s 116 students who took the test met or exceeded standards.