LONG-TIME SAN PEDRO HIGH MATH TEACHER CHALLENGES THE LOS ANGELES SCHOOL DISTRICT'S
EQUATIONS LISTING HIS CAMPUS AS A FAILING; THE LAUSD BOARD ACTION ANNOUCMENT OF 12
SCHOOLS ALLOWS OUTSIDE OPERATORS TO BID FOR THEM

THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN TO LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT RAMON
CORTINES

Mr. Cortines:

I am disappointed that in the press and in interviews you give the
false impression that San Pedro High School is one of the most
under performing schools in LD8 or LAUSD. Just this morning people
called me after watching the morning news with a quote from you
stating -- or insinuating -- such, wanting to know how I could work at
such a "lousy" school.

For your background information, year after year, San Pedro High
School has led Local District 8 in API and AYP. This year, due in
large part to decisions made by your own administrators, our API went
down, but this is after a more than FOURTY POINT INCREASE last year.
Further, our API places us within the top 15 of high schools in the
entire district. A quick glance shows that in the last decade we have
had huge increases in scores, and we dominate LD8 and much of the
district in math scores overall;  scores in Algebra 2 and higher place
us among such high-achieving schools and districts as Palos Verdes,
Torrance, Redondo and Mira Costa. San Pedro High also tends to have
one of the higher first-time pass rates for the high school exit exam
in the entire district. San Pedro High is also a school where numerous
teachers send our own children to be educated. We are not a failure by
any stretch of the imagination.

Yet in interviews you continue to give the impression that we are a
failure. Whether this is by design, statements out of context, or
accident,  the facts are so easily obtained and so obviously opposed
to this impression. Unfortunately, perception is reality, and you are
hurting us by continuing to spread this perception.

Can you please correct the perception that you created by (1) placing
one of your top schools on a list known in the news as "the failing
schools" list and (2) your statements in the press by making clear
that San Pedro High is not one of the most under performing schools in
either LAUSD or LD8, but that you hope to help take us to greater
heights? On behalf of the staff, students, parents and administration,
It would be most appreciated.

And if you are in town, please stop by and say hello. I would love to
show you some of the great things we do.

Sincerely,

Richard Wagoner
Math Teacher
Commissioner, California Curriculum Commission