Testing shows LBUSD students are stars

STAR testing results for 2011 reveal that a high percentage of Laguna Beach Unified students are advanced or proficient, beating county and state averages.

"The Laguna Beach Unified School District is widely recognized as an outstanding district throughout Orange County and the state," Supt. Sherine Smith wrote in an email. "This year's STAR results are further evidence of the strong educational program we offer students and the importance of our emphasis on the whole child.

"LBUSD has a dedicated school board, excellent teachers, principals and staff, and a supportive and invested community. We are proud to offer the gold standard of education to our students."

In English-language arts, 81.7% of students in grades 2 through 11 had proficient or advanced scores, compared with 62.8% in Orange County and 54.4% in California.

Similarly, 82.9% of eighth- and 11th-graders earned proficient or advanced scores in history compared with 59.1% in the county and 47.7% in the state.

The district's grade 2 through 7 students also fared better than the county and state in mathematics, with 72.6% of students achieving proficient or advanced scores. The county came about 10 points below at 60.1% and the state at 50.3%.

The subject students did the best on was science — 86.2% of fifth-, eighth- and 10th-graders had proficient or advanced scores. The county came in with 67.7%, and the state had 57%.