Indio Builds for the Better, but Needs More Focus on Grades

Many of you who have driven through Indio lately may have seen much of Indio High School’s (IHS) campus along Ave. 46 missing, or the area in front of city hall blocked off with massive construction. College of the Desert (COD) is currently constructing an extension campus in Indio, near the city hall and the library. The new campus will cover 2.5 acres. The building plans for three floors; the first floor will be reserved for businesses and restaurants that generate revenue for the COD; the second and third floor will include administrative offices, classrooms, labs, and a lounge. This new building will be designed to accommodate 3,000+ students. The area around the school will be updated and renovated to help with the flow of traffic expected from the school.
Following the lead of Palm Desert High School, IHS is also under construction. IHS is undergoing a long overdue renovation. The renovation will completely update the school in three phases. The currently missing structures are part of the demolition of Phase One, which will soon add a new administration building, a state of the art performing arts center, and a two story business and science building.
Many people hope that these renovations will help to engage students more and increase IHS’s Academic Performance Index (API) score, which according to U.S. News, is not meeting California’s API goal. The API measures the academic performance and progress of individual students in California. The API scoring has a range of 200 to 1000. IHS has a score of approximately 706. Although this score may seem high, California’s goal is set at 800. While IHS may not be looking like a top school, I would like to mention that in the past five years, IHS has brought their API up from 624. I do believe that this renovation will rejuvenate the faculty, engage the students, and make IHS a competitive school. For more high school rankings and scores, visit usnews.com and click on the education tab near the top of the page.
Now, with all the construction that will no doubt positively affect the Indio community, Indio is still lacking in making the grade. Most of the schools in Indio do not meet the API score set by California, and some of the schools are very low. Out of the 19 public and public charter schools located in Indio, six schools meet and pass the state goal for API set at 800. Those schools that passed are: Martin Van Buren Elementary – API of 878; Amelia Earhart Elementary – API of 875; John Glen Middle School – API of 850; Carrillo Ranch Elementary – API of 833; Dr. Reynald J. Carreon Junior Academy – API of 833; Desert Ridge Academy – API of 812. No other schools in Indio could meet the API set by our state. I should note that all of the schools have made progress in improving their API scores.