After three years of failing to meet academic performance standards, as is the case at Antioch High School, "you need a wake-up call," as school board President Walter Ruehlig put it.

After a fifth year of falling into program-improvement status because of low test scores, the state can take over the school — an outcome the Antioch school district would rather avoid.

Enter Fal Asrani, hired by the district last month to raise standards at its high schools. Federal law requires districts in program improvement to increase support at troubled schools, and they are given money to do so. Asrani's annual salary of $126,000 is being paid with that money.

Asrani has a background in raising academic achievement as past principal at two Southern California high schools, and she comes to Antioch with the goal of igniting changes that will boost slipping performance.

As her title, "administrator of high school reform," indicates, Asrani will work with all of the district's secondary schools. But her first charge is to focus on Antioch High, which has seen test scores slip in three of the past four years.

In 2009, Antioch High's Academic Performance Index score — the state's measure of achievement based on STAR tests and high school exit exams — fell 13 points, to 650. By contrast, Antioch's other mainstream high school, Deer Valley, raised its API score by 15 points this year, to 727. The state's target to indicate

Certain groups of students at Antioch High, including minorities and English-language learners, continue to perform below their white counterparts on standardized tests.

"Our immediate goal is to kick-start Antioch High back on an upward trajectory," Ruehlig said. "(Asrani) has her work cut out there for her."

Asrani, who also has counterparts working on reform at the middle school and elementary levels, said her goal is to increase parent involvement. Once parents value their kids' educations more, student achievement will follow, she said.

"From there starts the ripple effect of parents holding the schools accountable," Asrani said.

Antioch High Principal Louie Rocha said he is grateful for the resources to improve his school. He said he has been able to shift administrators' duties so they are spending more time in classrooms, and has hired a new counselor who will work primarily with students who are learning English.

Some teachers' leadership roles also have been expanded.

The school also is exploring increasing advanced placement and honors class offerings; and next school year the Academy of Engineering and Design will open within Antioch High with 150 freshmen as the district's fourth specialized high school.

"I think that people are optimistic," Rocha said.

Reach Hilary Costa at 925-779-7166. Follow her at Twitter.com/hilaryccosta.