Alisal, Hearst, Valley View and Vintage Hills elementary schools have been named 2006 California Distinguished Schools by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. A record 377 California public elementary schools were selected as Distinguished Schools this year. Of the more than 5,000 elementary schools in the state, 2,043 were eligible to apply based on the Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress reports. Of those eligible, 997 schools filed applications. Sixteen of the honored schools were in Alameda County. The California Department of Education in partnership with California County Superintendents Educations Services Association and local educators from across the state reviewed the applications.
The award is part of the California School Recognition Program, which was created in 1985 to publicize and reinforce the priorities of the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Elementary and secondary schools are recognized during alternate years and the award is valid for four years. Lydiksen and Mohr elementary schools were named Distinguished Schools in the 2004 cycle. Amador Valley and Foothill high schools and Harvest Park and Pleasanton middle schools were honored as Distinguished Schools last year during the secondary school cycle. Hart Middle School was not eligible last year because it was named a Distinguished School in 2003 and still held the title, but it will be eligible to apply next year.
This year’s Distinguished Schools will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Anaheim on May 26. During the ceremony, the state will also applaud California’s 35 nominees for the 2006 national No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School Program, which includes Amador and Foothill.
–Rebecca Guyon
