More than two dozen public schools in California – many of them led by ACSA members – have been named No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.
The 27 public schools receiving this honor are considered national models of excellence. They are either academically superior or have demonstrated dramatic gains in student achievement.
“This has been a very tough year for schools as they face higher accountability standards and at the same time shrinking budgets as a result of the economy and lack of a state budget,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. “The fact that these schools are named NCLB-Blue Ribbon Schools this year is truly a testament to the hard work and determination of their students and school staff to excel.”
Honored public schools include:
Alameda County – Mission San Jose High School, Fremont Unified School District, Principal Sandra Prairie, ACSA; Oakland Charter Academy, Oakland USD, Principal Jorge Lopez.
Contra Costa County – Las Lomas High School, Acalanes Union HSD, Principal Patrick Lickiss, ACSA.
El Dorado County – Oak Ridge High, El Dorado UHSD, Principal Stephen Wehr, ACSA.
Fresno County – Clovis East High, Clovis USD, Principal Steve Martinez.
Los Angeles County – Gretchen Whitney High, ABC Unified, Principal Patricia Hager, ACSA; Albert Baxter Elementary, Bellflower USD, Principal Janan Hughes, ACSA; Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy Los Angeles USD, Principal Mattie Adams-Robertson; Vine Elementary, West Covina USD, Principal William Bertrand.
Marin County – Redwood High, Tamalpais UHSD, Principal Nancy Neu.
Orange County – Northwood Elementary, Irvine USD, Principal Stuart Payne; Laguna Beach High, Laguna Beach USD, Principal Donald Austin; Pioneer Middle, Tustin USD, Principal Mike Mattos.
Placer County – Granite Oaks Middle School, Rocklin USD, Principal Michael Melton, ACSA.
Sacramento County – Golden Empire Elementary, Sacramento City USD, Principal Irene Eister, ACSA; West Campus High, Sacramento City USD, Principal Marc Smith.
San Bernardino County – Middle College High, San Bernardino City USD, Principal Bette Vest, ACSA.
San Diego County – Coronado High, Coronado USD, Principal Karl Mueller.
San Joaquin County – Elkhorn School, Lodi USD, Principal Scott McGregor; Middle College High, Lodi USD, Principal Sherry Balian.
San Mateo County – Corte Madera Elementary, Portola Valley ESD, Principal Carol Piraino, ACSA; La Entrada Middle, Las Lomitas ESD, Principal Larry Thomas, ACSA.
Santa Clara County – Lynbrook High, Fremont UHSD, Principal Mike White, ACSA; Monta Vista High, Fremont UHSD, Principal April Scott, ACSA.
Santa Cruz County – Pacific Collegiate Charter, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Principal Andrew Goldenkranz.
Solano County – Elise P. Buckingham Charter, Vacaville USD, Principal Taryn Carter.
Sonoma County – J. X. Wilson Elementary, Wright ESD, Principal Jane Futrell.
Blue Ribbon Schools must fit one of three categories:
• high achieving, dramatically improving;
• dramatically improving; or
• high achieving.
Schools in the first two categories must have a student body of 40 percent or more disadvantaged students. Their levels of proficiency places the school at the 90th or the 60th percentiles, respectively, in English-language arts and mathematics in the highest grade tested when compared to other schools in the state.
Schools in the third category, regardless of student demographics, must have scores that place the school at the 90th percentile in English-language arts and mathematics in the highest grade tested when compared to other schools in the state.
All awardees met the federal Adequate Yearly Progress requirement for 2006, 2007 and 2008 and the state Academic Performance Index growth targets. They will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in October.
To obtain further information on the program and review a list of 2008 winners nationwide, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site at www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html.