Key takeaways
- The academic performance index (API) was California’s main method for measuring school performance from 1999 to 2013.
- API scores ranged from 200 to 1,000, with 800 being the state’s target for every school.
- The California School Dashboard officially replaced API in 2017, using multiple measures instead of a single score.
- The term “academic performance index” also shows up in other settings, such as faculty evaluations at universities, so its meaning may change depending on where you see it.
Flickr user Devon Christopher Adams
The academic performance index (API) was a single score that measured how well California public schools were doing. It ranked schools on a scale of 200 to 1,000, with 800 as the target score. Below, we’ll walk through how it worked, why it ended, and what schools use today instead.
If you’ve come across this term while researching school history or comparing old test scores, this guide breaks it down in simple terms.
How did the academic performance index work?
API came from the Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999. This law required the California Department of Education (CDE) to calculate an API score for every public school each year. It also set growth goals for districts, schools, and specific student groups.
In short, API turned a school’s test results into one easy-to-compare number. Parents could look at that number and quickly see how a school stacked up against the state’s goal of 800.
While API stopped in 2014, it may still show up in older reports, so it helps to know how it was built.
How was the API score calculated?
API wasn’t based on just one exam. Instead, it combined results from several tests, such as:
- California Standards Tests (CSTs) in English, math, social studies, and science
- The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)
- Alternate assessments for students with disabilities (CMA and CAPA)
From there, the CDE ranked schools in two ways. First, by school type such as elementary, middle, or high school. Second, against 100 other schools with similar student populations. Additionally, separate scores were reported for student groups, including English learners, students with disabilities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
What were the API growth targets?
Each school’s yearly goal was to close 5% of the gap between its score and 800. For instance, a school with a base score of 700 aimed to gain 15 points that year. Schools already at 800 or above simply aimed to stay there.
Schools that met their targets could earn state recognition. Meanwhile, schools that missed their goals year after year received extra support to help them improve.
What were the two types of API scores?
Each school received two scores every year:
- Base API: Released in the spring, using the prior year’s test results as a starting point.
- Growth API: Released in the fall, showing how much the score moved from the year before.
Together, these two numbers let parents track a school’s progress over time, not just its score in a single year.
What were the limitations of API?
API was simple and easy to compare, which was a real strength. That said, it also had a few notable limitations:
- It leaned heavily on standardized tests, which don’t capture the full student experience.
- Some schools narrowed their lessons to focus mainly on tested subjects.
- Year-to-year swings sometimes reflected shifts in student population rather than real change.
- It didn’t account for outside factors that schools can’t control, such as poverty level.
A high API also didn’t guarantee a great experience for every student, since school-wide scores could mask how individual groups were doing. As a result, these concerns helped drive California toward a broader accountability model.
What replaced API?
In 2017, the California State Board of Education and the CDE introduced the California School Dashboard, a multiple-measures system designed to replace API. Rather than one score, it tracks several indicators, including:
- Academic achievement in English and math
- Graduation rates
- Chronic absenteeism
- English learner progress
- Suspension rates
- College and career readiness
This shift reflects a broader move in education toward measuring the whole student experience, not just test scores.
The table below compares API and the California School Dashboard across key features:
| Feature | Academic Performance Index (API) | California School Dashboard |
| Used in California | 1999-2014 | 2017-present |
| Main purpose | Measure school performance with one score | Provide a broader view of school performance |
| Format | Single numeric score | Multiple performance indicators |
| Score system | 200-1,000 scale | Color-coded performance levels |
| State target | 800 | No single statewide target |
| Measures included | Primarily standardized test results | Academic achievement, graduation rates, absenteeism, suspension rates, English learner progress, college and career readiness |
| Main limitation addressed | Did not show the full student experience | Measures multiple aspects of school success |
How is an academic index used in college admissions?
Some selective colleges, including the Ivy League schools, use a separate tool called the Academic Index (AI). Unlike California’s school-level API, the AI is calculated for each applicant, not for a whole school.
The Academic Index combines a student’s GPA and standardized test scores into one number, often on a scale of 60 to 240. Ivy League schools first created it in the 1950s to help review recruited athletes fairly, and many selective colleges now use a similar score for all applicants.
A strong Academic Index may help an application clear an early screening step, but it’s only one part of the process. Admissions officers still look closely at essays, recommendation letters, and extracurricular activities before making a final decision.
What API means today
API may be retired, but it helped shape how California schools are evaluated today. Ready to see how schools compare now? Explore colleges with our College Match tool, browse our College Rankings, or use our Scholarship Search to help fund your next step.
Frequently asked questions
What was the academic performance index used for?
The API measured and compared how California public schools performed on standardized tests. Schools received a score from 200 to 1,000, with 800 as the state’s goal, and used it to track progress year over year.
Is the API still used in California?
No. California phased out the API in 2014. It was officially replaced in 2017 by the California School Dashboard, which reports on multiple measures instead of a single score.
What score did schools need to reach on the API?
The state set 800 as the target for every school. Schools scoring below that received yearly growth goals designed to move them closer to the benchmark.
What replaced API in California?
The California School Dashboard replaced API in 2017. It tracks graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, English learner progress, and more, to provide a fuller picture of school performance.
Does a high API guarantee good outcomes for every student?
Not necessarily. A school-wide score can hide how specific student groups are doing, which is one reason California moved to a multiple-measures system.
