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GreatSchools Rating

Making Waves Academy

Charter | 5-7 | 197 students

Last modified
Community Rating

3 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
Based on 3 ratings
2011:
Based on 4 ratings
2010:
Based on 2 ratings

Teacher quality

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Parent involvement

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10 reviews of this school


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Posted August 6, 2012

MWA has many strengths, but a positive and stable culture is not one of them. We have high turnover year after year, both voluntary and involuntary, and it has nothing to do with the long hours, which we all knew about going in, or the students and parents, who are wonderful. The resulting chaos is extremely detrimental to the kids, especially the ones whose only source of stability is school. Several teachers with good results and strong rapport with the students were fired recently, without being given a reason. What kind of message does that send to the kids and to other hard working and dedicated teachers?
—Submitted by a teacher


Posted May 21, 2012

I am a teacher at Making Waves Academy, and have had to witness my colleagues being fired without reason, administration bullying teachers, poor leadership, and over priced consultants. The students are taught by the test, for the test, and nothing else. All that matters is the test. Students must attend Saturday School to prepare for... the test. Nothing matters except how students test on the STAR test. We are caring, professional teachers, but we are prevented from doing our job by a lack of leadership and a lack of support.
—Submitted by a teacher


Posted January 18, 2012

I have a daughter in this school, its her first year and so far we love it!! I see the difference in this school than a public school,the teachers and parents and even staff are more involved!.I feel my daughter is safe and is learning. I email her teacher at least once a month , and she is really fast in replying.She lets me know if my daughter need help or is turning in work on time.They have very long hours 8am to 6 pm!!! She gets home exausted, but i ratter have her in school than sitting on the couch or on the streets. But thats my opinion I highly recomend this school!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 29, 2011

My daughter is in this school and its rating is very low and asked for help for my daughter to raise grades and nothing to help me and asked to speak with the director and she is never available to me personally and had a bad experience in this is making waves school
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 25, 2011

i have no rating, but I do want to say to those saying there are no graduates, how much do you actually know about the school. FYI the school was created in the tradition of the Making Waves Education PROGRAM, which has a large number of graduates attending some very prestigious 4 year Universities (Harvard, Tufts, UCB, Stanford and USC amongst many others.) So the hope is that in the tradition of the program which came before this school, its graduates will achieve the same goal that the MWEP students achieved.


Posted January 14, 2011

Again, how can you say that 90% of the graduates go to college? It is a newly created middle school. None of its students have even reached college age! NONE Of its graduates have gone to college because there have been NO GRADUATES!!!!!!!


Posted January 13, 2011

Making Waves Academy is a great school for children in the Richmond area. Actually the statement is accurate because Making Waves is also an education program (MWEP). 90% of the graduates from the education program have been accepted into 4-year colleges and universities.


Posted October 12, 2010

, I do not think it is accurate to say that 90% of its graduates go on to four year colleges. None of its graduates have gone onto four year colleges because there have been no graduates. This school has been in existence for only a few years and the oldest students are now in 8th grade


Posted April 21, 2010

It is a safe place for learning and growing! 90% of high school graduates from this program are accepted to 4-year colleges!


Posted July 8, 2008

Making Waves Academy has offered an excelent academic program to my 5th grader. The teacher's, administrators and other staff are all on the same page and are very dedicated to the goals of the school. This school is a great assest to the community of Richmond.
—Submitted by 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

797

Change from
2011 to 2012

+7

API Statewide Rank
(2011)

6 / 10

API Similar Schools Rank (2011)

9 / 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 its schoolwide API target for 2012.
  • This school has not yet 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

797

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

+7

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)

6 / 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)

9 / 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.
English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 63% in 2012.

98 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
47%

2011

 
 
48%

2010

 
 
41%

2009

 
 
39%
Math

The state average for Math was 65% in 2012.

98 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
66%

2011

 
 
58%

2010

 
 
36%

2009

 
 
24%
Science

The state average for Science was 60% in 2012.

98 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
63%

2011

 
 
41%

2010

 
 
52%

2009

 
 
34%
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

English Language Arts

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

98 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
54%

2011

 
 
45%

2010

 
 
48%

2009

 
 
43%
Math

The state average for Math was 55% in 2012.

98 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
43%

2011

 
 
41%

2010

 
 
29%

2009

 
 
18%
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 86% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
n/a

2010

 
 
n/a

2009

 
 
n/a
English Language Arts

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

95 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
56%

2011

 
 
54%

2010

 
 
47%

2009

 
 
n/a
Math

The state average for Math was 52% in 2012.

95 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
57%

2011

 
 
45%

2010

 
 
46%

2009

 
 
n/a
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

English Language Arts

All Students47%
Females56%
Males37%
African American46%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino48%
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantaged46%
Non-economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability50%
English learner13%
Fluent-English proficient and English only75%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate39%
Parent education - high school graduate58%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)53%
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to state47%

Math

All Students66%
Females65%
Males65%
African American62%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino65%
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantaged64%
Non-economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability68%
English learner44%
Fluent-English proficient and English only83%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate61%
Parent education - high school graduate77%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)67%
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to state60%

Science

All Students63%
Females67%
Males59%
African American62%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino63%
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantaged63%
Non-economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability66%
English learner44%
Fluent-English proficient and English only79%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate58%
Parent education - high school graduate77%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)73%
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
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

English Language Arts

All Students54%
Females59%
Males49%
African American47%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino55%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantaged55%
Non-economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability55%
English learner10%
Fluent-English proficient and English only66%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate42%
Parent education - high school graduate65%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)31%
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to staten/a

Math

All Students43%
Females45%
Males41%
African American13%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino47%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantaged43%
Non-economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability43%
English learner14%
Fluent-English proficient and English only51%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate35%
Parent education - high school graduate47%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)38%
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to staten/a
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 Studentsn/a
Femalesn/a
Malesn/a
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latinon/a
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantagedn/a
Non-economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with no reported disabilityn/a
Fluent-English proficient and English onlyn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
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 graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to staten/a

English Language Arts

All Students56%
Females66%
Males46%
African American40%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino60%
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantaged56%
Non-economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability58%
English learner17%
Fluent-English proficient and English only61%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate52%
Parent education - high school graduate63%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)38%
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to staten/a

Math

All Students57%
Females51%
Males63%
African American45%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino59%
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantaged57%
Non-economically disadvantagedn/a
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability59%
English learner25%
Fluent-English proficient and English only61%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talentedn/a
Parent education - not a high school graduate45%
Parent education - high school graduate58%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)62%
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to staten/a
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
Hispanic or Latino 69% 49%
African American 27% 7%
Asian 2% 8%
Filipino 1% 3%
Multiple or No Response 1% 3%
Pacific Islander 1% 1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0% 1%
White 0% 28%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
English language learners 138%N/A24%
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 280%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 89% 85%
Tongan 5% 0%
Punjabi 3% 1%
Vietnamese 3% 2%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2007-2008

Average class size

  This school District averageState average
Average class size 19N/A25
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2007-2008

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Average years teaching in district 2N/A11
Average years teaching 6N/A13
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009

Teacher credentials

  This school District averageState average
Full credential 44%N/A96%
Emergency credential or waiver 39%N/A2%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009

School basics

School Leader's name
  • Jeeva Roche-Smith
Special schedule
  • Year-round
Fax number
  • (510) 262-1518
School leaders can update this information here.
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

4123 Lakeside Drive
Richmond, CA 94806
Website: Click here
Phone: (510) 262-1511

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