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Joseph Kerr Middle School

Public | 7-8 | 975 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars


Teacher quality

Principal leadership

Parent involvement

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7 reviews of this school


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Posted September 29, 2009

Have taught here since 1984 and know that it puts what is best for students first!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 8, 2009

kerr is a pretty good school strict but a good school
—Submitted by a student


Posted June 5, 2008

This was the first year for us at Kerr Middle school. The transition from 6th to 7th is quite a difference. I see more parents involved in 6th, vs 7th grade middle school. One thing that I did notice, they do have something called 'school loop'-where parents and students can access thier grades online-which is a huge benefit. Majority of the kids walk to school--traffic is not that great for parents having to pick up thier kids. I have heard many stories reg. fights happened at school.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted April 28, 2008

Great School! The band program run by Nancy Kries is TOP notch! She is an incredible teacher that really motivates kids to learn music. The teachers there work hard to make sure that students really understand their learning!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 26, 2005

Kerr is a pretty traditional school and is in the heart of the old town of Elk Grove with its many traditions. As there is a generational feeling to the school, some people coming to town might feel a little like a third wheel. They provide a basic program and firm discipline however. They do what they can with the enormous population fluctuation experienced in the area.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted April 29, 2005

this is a great school. the students really learn a lot and it has fantastic programs in all areas.
—Submitted by a former student


Posted April 28, 2004

My daughter loves this school. She had some problems with distraction at first (extra curricular activities and such) but has been able to work them out. I'm a little concerned about safety. A few times when picking her up, there are police cars there, and she speaks nonchalantly of fights she witnesses. I may be old fashioned and paranoid (that's what she says). It appears to be great though. She is turning out great, and the level of parent involvement has even brought us together with others in our community for the common cause (our kids).
—Submitted by mike barker, a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.

The API reflects year-over-year schools performance based on STAR test score results from spring 2012.

This school's
API score

839

Change from
2011 to 2012

+10

API Statewide Rank
(2011)

7 / 10

API Similar Schools Rank (2011)

7 / 10


API Growth scores over time

Did this school meet the API goal this year?
The state goal for API is 800. All schools that are below 800 are assigned an API improvement target each year.
  • This school met the state goal of 800.

API Growth scores by subgroup

In addition to schoolwide API scores, each student subgroup receives an API score.
Did this school meet all the API goals for student subgroups this year?
The state goal for the API is 800. All the student subgroups at a school that are below 800 are assigned an API improvement target each year.
  • This school did not meet all student subgroup API targets for 2012

This school's
API score

839

What is the API?
The Academic Performance Index (API) is a single number assigned to each school by the California Department of Education to measure overall school performance and improvement over time on statewide testing. The API ranges from 200 and 1000, with 800 as the state goal for all schools.
Change from
2011 to 2012

+10

Change from 2011 to 2012
Comparing the API Growth to the Base shows whether or not this school’s test score performance improved between Spring 2011 and Spring 2012. The API ranges between 200 and 1000, with 800 as the statewide goal for all schools. Schools scoring below an 800 are given at least a 5 point target for the next year.
API Statewide Rank
(2011)

7 / 10

API Statewide Rank (2011)
The API Statewide Rank ranges from 1 to 10. A rank of 10, for example, means that the school’s API fell into the top 10% of all schools in the state with a comparable grade range. The 2011 rank is based on results from tests students took in Spring 2011.
API Similar Schools Rank (2011)

7 / 10

API Similar Schools Rank (2011)
The API Similar Schools Rank ranges from 1 to 10. It shows how the school compares to other schools with similar student demographic profiles. The California Department of Education uses parent education level, poverty level, student ethnicity and other data to identify similar schools.
Algebra I

The state average for Algebra I was 86% in 2012.

34 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
97%

2011

 
 
100%

2010

 
 
98%

2009

 
 
95%
English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 62% in 2012.

432 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
69%

2011

 
 
69%

2010

 
 
66%

2009

 
 
63%
Math

The state average for Math was 52% in 2012.

395 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
64%

2011

 
 
60%

2010

 
 
51%

2009

 
 
51%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Algebra I

The state average for Algebra I was 49% in 2012.

140 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
90%

2011

 
 
84%

2010

 
 
90%

2009

 
 
96%
English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 59% in 2012.

441 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
67%

2011

 
 
64%

2010

 
 
59%

2009

 
 
58%
General Mathematics (Grades 6 & 7 Standards)

The state average for General Mathematics (Grades 6 & 7 Standards) was 32% in 2012.

269 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
54%

2011

 
 
41%

2010

 
 
41%

2009

 
 
48%
Geometry

The state average for Geometry was 87% in 2012.

56 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
91%

2011

 
 
94%

2010

 
 
100%

2009

 
 
100%
History - Social Science Grade 8 Cumulative

The state average for History - Social Science Grade 8 Cumulative was 52% in 2012.

465 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
59%

2011

 
 
61%

2010

 
 
54%

2009

 
 
57%
Science

The state average for Science was 66% in 2012.

447 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
76%

2011

 
 
68%

2010

 
 
68%

2009

 
 
72%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Algebra I

All Students97%
Females95%
Males100%
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latinon/a
White (not Hispanic)100%
Economically disadvantagedn/a
Non-economically disadvantaged100%
Students with no reported disability97%
English learnern/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only97%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented100%
Parent education - not a high school graduaten/a
Parent education - high school graduaten/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)92%
Parent education - college graduate100%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to staten/a

English Language Arts

All Students69%
Females73%
Males65%
African American47%
Asian83%
Filipino61%
Hispanic or Latino50%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)77%
Economically disadvantaged60%
Non-economically disadvantaged75%
Students with disability24%
Students with no reported disability71%
English learner11%
Fluent-English proficient and English only71%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented100%
Parent education - not a high school graduate42%
Parent education - high school graduate55%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)68%
Parent education - college graduate82%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate88%
Parent education - declined to state47%

Math

All Students64%
Females65%
Males64%
African American48%
Asian77%
Filipino54%
Hispanic or Latino46%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)72%
Economically disadvantaged55%
Non-economically disadvantaged71%
Students with disability28%
Students with no reported disability66%
English learner33%
Fluent-English proficient and English only66%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented100%
Parent education - not a high school graduate42%
Parent education - high school graduate48%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)62%
Parent education - college graduate81%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate82%
Parent education - declined to state47%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Algebra I

All Students90%
Females92%
Males86%
African Americann/a
Asian100%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino71%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)92%
Economically disadvantaged86%
Non-economically disadvantaged91%
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability89%
English learnern/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only89%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented94%
Parent education - not a high school graduaten/a
Parent education - high school graduate79%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)91%
Parent education - college graduate95%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate91%
Parent education - declined to state84%

English Language Arts

All Students67%
Females71%
Males62%
African American50%
Asian78%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino54%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)74%
Economically disadvantaged55%
Non-economically disadvantaged75%
Students with disability25%
Students with no reported disability68%
English learner18%
Fluent-English proficient and English only69%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented100%
Parent education - not a high school graduate44%
Parent education - high school graduate45%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)64%
Parent education - college graduate77%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate81%
Parent education - declined to state73%

General Mathematics (Grades 6 & 7 Standards)

All Students54%
Females59%
Males48%
African American46%
Asian40%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino53%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)59%
Economically disadvantaged49%
Non-economically disadvantaged59%
Students with disability20%
Students with no reported disability60%
English learner45%
Fluent-English proficient and English only55%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate56%
Parent education - high school graduate44%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)46%
Parent education - college graduate51%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate67%
Parent education - declined to state77%

Geometry

All Students91%
Females87%
Males94%
African Americann/a
Asian100%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latinon/a
White (not Hispanic)90%
Economically disadvantagedn/a
Non-economically disadvantaged91%
Students with no reported disability91%
Fluent-English proficient and English only91%
Gifted and talented94%
Parent education - not a high school graduaten/a
Parent education - high school graduaten/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)n/a
Parent education - college graduate89%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to staten/a

History - Social Science Grade 8 Cumulative

All Students59%
Females59%
Males59%
African American36%
Asian76%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino51%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)65%
Economically disadvantaged45%
Non-economically disadvantaged69%
Students with disability17%
Students with no reported disability63%
English learner19%
Fluent-English proficient and English only61%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented100%
Parent education - not a high school graduate24%
Parent education - high school graduate43%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)57%
Parent education - college graduate71%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate76%
Parent education - declined to state61%

Science

All Students76%
Females77%
Males77%
African American56%
Asian88%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino68%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)83%
Economically disadvantaged66%
Non-economically disadvantaged85%
Students with disability35%
Students with no reported disability79%
English learner41%
Fluent-English proficient and English only78%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented100%
Parent education - not a high school graduate56%
Parent education - high school graduate65%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)78%
Parent education - college graduate78%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate90%
Parent education - declined to state81%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
White 51% 28%
Hispanic or Latino 17% 49%
Asian 9% 8%
Multiple or No Response 9% 3%
African American 8% 7%
Filipino 3% 3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2% 1%
Pacific Islander 1% 1%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
English language learners 15%N/A24%
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 234%N/A52%
Source: 1 CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009
Source: 2 NCES, 2008-2009

Home languages of english learners

Language This school State average
Spanish 58% 85%
Hmong 8% 1%
Filipino (Pilipino or Tagalog) 7% 1%
Vietnamese 5% 2%
Punjabi 4% 1%
Cantonese 2% 2%
Mien (Yao) 2% 0%
All other non-English languages 1% 1%
Arabic 1% 1%
French 1% 0%
Hindi 1% 0%
Ilocano 1% 0%
Japanese 1% 0%
Lao 1% 0%
Mandarin (Putonghua) 1% 1%
Pashto 1% 0%
Russian 1% 0%
Tongan 1% 0%
Urdu 1% 0%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2007-2008

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Average years teaching in district 17N/A11
Average years teaching 19N/A13
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009

Teacher credentials

  This school District averageState average
Full credential 100%N/A96%
Emergency credential or waiver 0%N/A2%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

8865 Elk Grove Boulevard
Elk Grove, CA 95624
Phone: (916) 686-7728

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