Dorsey High rejects aid from Riordan group

The longtime education philanthropist has sought a quasi-management role at a low-performing high school, much like current Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other civic leaders.

"I'm offering my heart, my soul, my reputation, my pocketbook and everything to the students at Dorsey High School," said Riordan, who also served as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's first education secretary.

Riordan had lined up former movie studio executive Sherry Lansing through her charitable foundation as well as the San Francisco-based NewSchools Venture Fund, headed by Ted Mitchell, president of the state Board of Education.

But that cast, along with boxes of glossy folders, a PowerPoint presentation and a nascent staff with solid credentials, failed to carry the day.

"I sent an e-mail this afternoon that the school no longer wants to pursue a partnership with that foundation," Senior Deputy Supt. Ramon C. Cortines said Tuesday. "It is now at an end."

Cortines said he made that decision based on the wishes of the school community and the South Los Angeles campus' recent improvement.

"I am very proud of them," Cortines said. "I also challenged them that we have to set the goal higher next year."

Dorsey increased its score on the state Academic Performance Index by 30 points, which equals the target improvement goal set by Villaraigosa for the 10 schools under his stewardship. A 30-point rise is considered incremental but well above the average gain in L.A. Unified and statewide. Dorsey has surpassed its overall state improvement target three of the last four years and scored higher each year.

"I'm not looking for someone to turn around what my school is doing," said Principal George Bartleson, who has started his fifth year at the school.

Bartleson said he and his staff spent considerable time working through disagreements and logistics to develop their own reform plans. Last year, they divided Dorsey into seven small learning communities, which include three magnet schools and an academy for ninth-graders.

But Dorsey still ranks among the lowest 10% of California high schools: In math, 1% of students test as proficient; in English, it's 16%. The graduation rate is 49%.