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American Indian Charter School
Turnarourd: Highest Middle School Test Gains in State
Contact: Dirk Tilloston
Phone: 510.834.9455
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American Indian Charter School
Turnarourd: Highest Middle School Test Gains in State
Contact: Dirk Tilloston
Phone: 510.834.9455
Two years ago the American Indian Public Charter School (AIPCS) was on the
brink of closure. In August of 2000, enrollment had sunk to twenty-seven students,
the entire staff had left, the governing board was in a shambles, and $80,000
of bills piled with no apparent new revenues. What a difference two years make,
as the school can now boast of an Academic Performance Index (API) increase
that outpaces any middle school in California and is the fourth highest overall
in the state.
AIPCS’s gain of 136 points on the state’s standard measure for school
performance vastly exceeded any other middle school in Alameda County. Thornton
in Fremont grew 66 points, and in Oakland the highest gainer was Oakland Charter
Academy who boasted a 57 point increase. To put the numbers in context, the
Oakland Tribune reported on the jump in scores in its 8/31/2002 article stating
that, “(i)n math and language almost half of American Indian’s seventh
graders were on par with the national average. That’s compared to two
years ago when none of the school’s seventh graders met the average in
math language or reading.” These accomplishments took place among a student
population where 96% of students qualified for free/reduced lunch, 5-20% of
students were homeless, and all were minorities.
The school credits its dynamic and dedicated staff and families as well as community
partners that have supported the school. After a reprieve by the Oakland School
Board in August 2000, the school reorganized, rededicating itself to creating
a safe community for students amid demanding academic expectations.
Attendance, which had lagged in the low eighty percent range, was now at 99%
for the school’s 137 students. This year one teacher’s class had
31 consecutive days without a single absence.
Parent Ofelia Perez, who has two children at the school, was troubled by the
impersonality of the large traditional public schools and the tendency for kids
to, “fall through the cracks.” At American Indian she noted that
her children get extra individual attention which has improved their performance
and self esteem. “All our students are smart, but some just need a jump
start, they need a little extra attention. Here the teacher knows all the students
and makes time to work individually with them or gets them a tutor, at American
Indian there are no cracks to fall through.”
School board president, Dirk Tillotson, credits the school’s success to
support from community agencies and the power of dedicated professionals and
families to transform the culture at the school. “Here there are no excuses
for poor effort, and we will meet you more than halfway if that is what it takes.
Many of our families are struggling just to survive; we offer them a safe place
where their kids will learn the skills to succeed in life and also how to be
part of a community. These students want to learn, they want to come to school
every day, and often voluntarily stay hours afterwards. Our equation is simple,
high expectations plus high support equals student success. Oakland has thousands
of diamonds in the rough; these precious gems just need someone who cares enough
to polish them”
American Indian is one of fifteen operating charter schools in Oakland. Charter
schools are public schools of choice that are free from many of the rules that
govern traditional public schools, being held accountable for student achievement
rather than compliance with rules. Given the success of many of these schools,
and fears that those gains would dissipate at the high school level, American
Indian in conjunction with two other schools assisted in the creation of yet
another Oakland charter school, Unity High, which will open in fall 2003, to
serve American Indian’s graduates, and any other students in Oakland who
would like to attend.
Success Stories
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