The API is the centerpiece of statewide accountability, measuring both academic performance and growth of schools. A cornerstone of California's Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999, the API is a numeric index or scale ranging from a low of 200 to a high of 1,000. The state recommends a performance target for all schools of 800, although only 44 high schools garnered an 800 or higher out of 774 schools.

Los Gatos High School, standing in 18th place statewide among comprehensive high schools and 25th place overall with an 832, outscored last year's API by 42 points.

Saratoga High School also raised its previous year's score by 11 points for a score of 900. Saratoga's score hoists the school into fifth position statewide, but first place in comprehensive high schools. Of the 774 comprehensive, charter and magnet high schools, only four small, specialty, academic magnet schools outscored Saratoga High School.

"I'm thrilled," said Dr. Cindy Ranii, superintendent of the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District. "I think it's a great reflection of the good work that's going on in our schools."

She said the scores demonstrate the combination of a high-quality staff, supportive parents and motivated students. The API results demonstrate that the district cumulatively received a score of 862, making it the highest ranked of all the high school districts in the state.

The API measures student achievement in English Language Arts (40 percent), mathematics (20 percent), science (20 percent) and social science (20 percent). Other factors embedded in the content area calculations include the California Assessment Test 6, the Content Standards Test and the California High School Exit Exam.

Saratoga High School Assistant Principal Gail Wasserman, who handles school testing, said the scores are a way to gauge how well the staff is teaching.

"What it means is our students are very bright, and from our point of view as a school it means they are getting a fine education from our staff members," Wasserman said.

She said the school is pleased to see that the longer students attend Saratoga High School, the better they do and the more they continue to improve. She said one of the main reasons for this is because the students come from homes where education is highly valued.

"We are very proud of our students and our caliber of teachers and instructional staff," Wasserman said.

Los Gatos High School Assistant Principal Dan Fowler, formerly an administrator at Saratoga High School, said he's seen the best of both schools and their friendly rivalry.

"We want to maintain that standard of excellence we've achieved and improve on it," Fowler said.

Los Gatos High School Assistant Principal Kathleen Eaton, in charge of school testing, said they were pleased with the API results, although there is always room for improvement.

"We have more to do in the area of reading comprehension," she said.

Eaton said the fine professional staff works hard to ensure they are addressing state standards in the curriculum.

"We have excellent students," Eaton said. "They come from enriched backgrounds in that their parents expose them to a lot of things while growing up—music, sports, cultural events. They come to us with a head start."

But Eaton added it's hard to say if the API is a reliable, consistent indicator of progress because the content of what's included in the API scores has changed every year. The API does not include assessment indicators such as the SAT I or II averages. And Eaton said the API is very limited because it only includes multiple-choice-type tests.

She added that often parents looking to move to a particular area select high schools that have an API score of 800 or higher. The higher the API score, the higher the property values, Eaton said, adding that the recent accomplishment is something of which they can still be proud.

"It's something we accomplished as a community. Everyone pulled together—teachers, students, parents, administrators," Eaton said. "The other reason it's exciting is the school's reputation because the scores are so public. The school's reputation is really on the line, and the scores are really proof of a solid academic program."