(September 30, 2011) — Every year, public school students in California take the California Standards Tests which determine what standards they have covered within the course of the year. High test scores on these tests can help raise a school’s Academic Performance Index (API). “Having a high API score is very important to me, because it will help me get into the college of my choice like UCLA or UC Irvine,” senior Martin Zakarian said. This year, Clark’s API score is 909 — 19 points higher than last year’s. As a reward for their accomplishments, this year the students are being given 20 free drees days, according to counselor Karine Turdjian. The state of California has a statewide target for all students, usually proficient and advanced. The API score gets points added to it by the number of students who score above or in the statewide range. The API is determined by student performance in subgroups such as ethnicity, English learners, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. According to Turdjian, the statewide goal for all the subgroups is 800. The socioeconomically disadvantaged subgroup helps the school earn the Title I Academic Achievement award. The Title I award is given to the schools who have a certain amount of students who are classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged. Clark has 426 students who are classified as such, which helps Clark receive the Title I achievement award. Title I is a way of saying that the school has more than 40% of its students in this socioeconomic subgroup. Turdjian said that Title I allows Clark to apply for national recognitions. Having the Title I award and going to a school that has earned a high API score also gives outgoing seniors an advantage with a sticker on their diplomas. According to Zakarian, “The more stickers on our diploma, the better.”