San Diego County schools got their state and federal report cards today. Schools are making progress based on the state's standards. However, they're missing the mark under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, NCLB.
About 60 percent of San Diego County schools are improving under California's standards. But only one-third of schools are making the grade under NCLB.
The way California measures school success differs from the way the U.S. Department of Education measures success.
California gives schools points for making academic progress from year to year. Campuses in Sweetwater, Chula Vista and San Ysidro saw big improvements based on that system.
The federal government gives schools either a pass or fail grade. Federal targets creep upward every year.
Under those guidelines, only five school districts are satisfying federal standards. San Diego Unified, Vista and Grossmont are among the districts that fall short.
Experts say the federal report card carries more weight. That's because schools may be forced to adopt campus reforms or face a state takeover if they continue to miss federal targets.
