Turnbull Learning Academy faces radical changes

At Turnbull, most of the school's students are not proficient in English and tests are a struggle every year. Last year, however, the school's Academic Performance Index scores went up 75 points to 551, out of a possible 1,000. That was a 16-point improvement over a state goal.

That improvement was marked with cheers at the school, whose parents, teachers and administrators often defend the education the North Central San Mateo school provides.

Next year, the school will use a magnet school grant to separate its academic program from its electives in a large-scale restructuring, said Toni-Sue Passantino, assistant superintendent of education services for the San Mateo-Foster City School District.

The academic program will take place in the morning and electives like art and music will take place in the afternoon, Passantino said. The grant will continue to pay for staff development and new curriculum, she added.

Horrall did not meet the minimum 95 participation for the federally-mandated test, but all other criteria were met, Passantino said. Bayside met the school-wide criteria, but a subgroup of socioeconomic disadvantaged students did not pass one content area of the test, Passantino said. No sweeping changes are planned at either school, she said.