SPI Announces 2023 CA Distinguished Schools – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that more than 350 elementary schools have been selected for the prestigious 2023 California Distinguished Schools Program. The award program is celebrating its return this year after the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily suspended reporting of state and local student data. Since its inception in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools Award remains one of the important ways to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees for their innovation, talent, and success in supporting students.

The exceptional elementary schools recognized this year are illustrative of the hard work, dedication, and resilience shown by educators and schools across the state after communities struggled for multiple years with urgent effects to physical and mental health and unprecedented challenges to delivering education. To select California Distinguished Schools, the California Department of Education (CDE) uses multiple measures to identify eligible schools based on their performance on the state indicators as specified on the California School Dashboard (Dashboard). Specifically, schools were selected by analyzing data reported through the 2022 Dashboard, including assessment results, chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, and socioeconomic data. Information regarding the 2022 Dashboard is provided on the CDE California School Dashboard and System of Support web page.

Source: SPI Announces 2023 CA Distinguished Schools – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Nearly 30 Bay Area Schools Added To List Of CA Distinguished Schools – CBS San Francisco

State schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond named an additional 121 schools – including 28 in the greater Bay Area – as 2021 California Distinguished Schools.

The award honors schools who have made improvements in test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate. The state originally honored 102 schools March 18, but after further review of the data added the additional schools.

Source: Nearly 30 Bay Area Schools Added To List Of California Distinguished Schools – CBS San Francisco

Rodriguez High School Named 2021 California Distinguished School | Suisun City, CA Patch

By Maggie Fusek

A school in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District was among an additional 121 schools named 2021 California Distinguished Schools this week by California Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond.

The state originally honored 102 schools March 18, but after further review of the data recognized the additional schools, including Angelo Rodriguez High School in Fairfield and 27 other greater Bay Area schools.

The award recognizes schools that have made improvements in closing the achievement gap and student participation, which are measured by test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate.

Source: Rodriguez High School Named 2021 California Distinguished School | Suisun City, CA Patch

Additional 2021 California Distinguished Schools – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today named an additional 121 schools as 2021 California Distinguished Schools. In an announcement on March 18, the California Department of Education (CDE) awarded the honor to 102 schools and today that list has been broadened to include 120 additional California senior high schools and one more middle school.

The California Department of Education (CDE) identifies and awards eligible schools based on performance and progress on state indicators specified on the California School Dashboard, the state’s accountability and continuous improvement system. Indicators include test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate. After a review of the data, CDE identified these additional schools for this year’s honor.

“These additional high schools join the ranks of all 2021 California Distinguished Schools who are being recognized for this distinction because of their exceptional record to provide for all students and their commitment to data-driven efforts that prepare students for college and career,” Thurmond said. “Our thanks go to the entire communities surrounding these schools, including the teachers, administrators, and classified employees as well as the students and their families who, through teamwork, all accomplished this impressive achievement together.”

Source: Additional 2021 California Distinguished Schools – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

Thurmond Announces 2020 CA Distinguished Schools – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that 323 elementary schools are being honored under the 2020 California Distinguished Schools Award Program. Sponsored by the California Department of Education and presented by California Casualty, the program recognizes outstanding education programs and practices. Schools are awarded for closing the achievement gap and for achieving exceptional student performance.

The list of recognized schools is attached at the end of this press release.

“These outstanding schools don’t just educate students; they also provide the young people of California the tools they need to be successful after graduation,” Thurmond said. “Thanks go to all the staff at these schools—teachers, administrators, classified employees—and parents, who are working together to provide high-quality educational experiences for all of their students.”

Source: Thurmond Announces 2020 CA Distinguished Schools – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

Vallejo academy earns state Distinguished School honor – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The Mare Island Technology Academy in Vallejo has been selected as a California Distinguished School.

“This is a tremendous honor and well-deserved recognition for MIT Academy. They are a shining example of the great work going on in our schools in Solano County,” Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a statement announcing the school’s selection.

There were 208 eligible schools in the state.Officials at the academy could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Source: Vallejo academy earns state Distinguished School honor

2019 CA Distinguished Schools Announced – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that 162 middle and high schools are being honored under the 2019 Distinguished Schools Program. Sponsored by the California Department of Education and California Casualty, the program recognizes outstanding education programs and practices. Schools are awarded for achieving exceptional student performance for two consecutive school years or closing the achievement gap between two school years.

The list of recognized schools is attached at the end of this press release.

“I would like to commend these schools for fighting for a better future for our students, closing achievement gaps, and improving academic performance,” Thurmond said. “Thanks to teachers, administrators, classified employees, and parents working together, these schools meet the needs of all of their students, provide high-quality educational experiences, and put kids on a pathway to great careers.”

Source: 2019 CA Distinguished Schools Announced – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

Mare Island academy up for Distinguished School award – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Mare Island Technical Academy has received an invitation to apply for the California Distinguished School award, the Solano County Office of Education announced.

The secondary school earned the invitation “because they have made exceptional gains in implementing the academic content performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education for all students,” Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a statement.

Schools that received the invitation have met a variety of criteria, involving multiple measures on their performance and progress on the state indicators on the California School Dashboard.

Source: Mare Island academy up for Distinguished School award

CA Distinguished Schools Eligibility List for 2019 –  (CA Dept of Education)

California is recognizing outstanding education programs and practices in middle and high schools in 2019. The following schools are eligible to apply for the California Distinguished Schools (DS) Award and California Exemplary Award in 2019.

Information about the California Distinguished Schools (DS) Program, Eligibility Criteria, Application, California Exemplary Award, California Exemplary Districts Award, Timeline of Activities, Sponsors, and Resources, can be found on the California Department of Education California Distinguished Schools Program web page.

Source: CA Distinguished Schools Eligibility List for 2019 – California Distinguished Schools Program (CA Dept of Education)

CA Schools Nationally Recognized for Success – Year 2018 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today congratulated two California schools for receiving national recognition for achievement in 2018. A.J. Cook Elementary School in Garden Grove and Adams Elementary School in Santa Barbara are two of up to 100 schools throughout the country being recognized as National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished Schools—formerly known as National Title I Distinguished Schools.

“Congratulations to Principal Sandi Ishii and Principal Kelly Fresch, as well as the entire team of educators, administrators, staff, parents, employees, and of course, students at these schools,” said Torlakson. “They are shining examples of positive changes underway in California’s education system, and what happens when everyone works together to achieve student success.”

A project of the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators, the ESEA Distinguished Schools Program publicly recognizes qualifying federally funded schools for the outstanding academic achievements of their students. It highlights schools across the country achieving exceptional student performance, as well as those closing the achievement gap between student groups.

Source: CA Schools Nationally Recognized for Success – Year 2018 (CA Dept of Education)

2018 CA Distinguished Schools Program – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

I am pleased to announce the 2018 California Distinguished Schools Program. This is one of the many ways that the California Department of Education (CDE) and I celebrate outstanding educational programs and practices through our California School Recognition Program which honors exemplary students, teachers, classified employees, and schools for advancing excellence in education. After a three-year break, the California Distinguished Schools Program is back and replaces the California Gold Ribbon Schools Program.

Sponsored by California Casualty, the 2018 California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes California elementary schools that have made exceptional gains in implementing the academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education for all students. By using California’s multiple measures accountability system, the CDE has identified eligible schools based on their performance and progress on the state indicators as described on the California School Dashboard (Dashboard). You can access the California School Dashboard Report on the CDE’s California School Dashboard Web page at https://www.caschooldashboard.org.

Source: 2018 CA Distinguished Schools Program – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

California National Title I Distinguished Schools – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson congratulated two California schools for receiving national recognition for achievement in 2017. Ulloa Elementary School in San Francisco and Alvarado Elementary School in Signal Hill are two of up to 100 schools being recognized as National Title I Distinguished Schools.

“Congratulations to Principal Carol Fong and Principal Lucy Salazar, as well as all the teachers, administrators, staff, school board members, parents, classified employees, and students for these schools,” said Torlakson. “They are all examples of aiming high, achieving goals, and continuing to move forward and upward—the California Way.”

A project of the National Title I Association, the National Title I Distinguished Schools Program publicly recognizes qualifying Title I schools for the outstanding academic achievements of their students. Beginning in 1996, the program has highlighted hundreds of schools with exceptional student performance, as well as schools closing the achievement gap between student groups.

Source: California National Title I Distinguished Schools – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

Vallejo’s Mare Island Technology Academy in running for several awards – Times Herald

By Times-Herald staff

Mare Island Technology Academy, along with its sister school MIT Academy High School, have been notified by the California State Department of Education that they will be receiving multiple school walk-throughs after qualifying for the new Gold Ribbon/California Distinguished Schools program, according to an MITA press release.

According to MITA officials, the new California Gold Ribbon Award, implemented this year under the direction of State Superintendent Tom Torlakson, was inaugurated this year to succeed the previous California Distinguished School program. As part of the Gold Ribbon selection process, a new category has been added, the California Career Technical Education Exemplary School award. As technology-based schools, both MIT middle and high schools are also candidates for the CTE awards, which means the combined schools are in the running for a total of four distinguished school awards – two each for the Gold Ribbon and CTE awards.

via Vallejo’s Mare Island Technology Academy in running for several awards.

Job well done: School, teachers win praise – Benicia Herald

Keri Luiz

Awards and acknowledgements were the theme last week during Benicia Unified School District’s board meeting, as trustees heard about accolades received by one elementary school and a pair of employees.

Matthew Turner Elementary School was acknowledged for receiving the California Distinguished School Award, which, according to the California Department of Education website, identifies and honors schools that have “demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap.”

Matthew Turner was one of three Solano County schools to receive the award this year, Superintendent Janice Adams told trustees Thursday.

via Job well done: School, teachers win praise.

3 Solano elementary schools deemed distinguished – The Reporter

Vacaville Reporter Posted:

Three Solano elementary schools were among the nearly 425 named as California Distinguished Schools for 2014, it has been announced.

Nelda Mundy and Oakbrook, in Fairfield-Suisun Unifed, and Matthew Turner, in Benicia Unified, were cited for their “strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievement,” state officials said Wednesday in a press release.

The 2014 state Distinguished Schools program focuses on students’ “right to an equitable and rigorous education, and recognizes those schools that have made progress in narrowing the academic achievement gap,” said Pam Slater, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.

via 3 Solano elementary schools deemed distinguished – The Reporter.

Nelda Mundy, Oakbrook earn California Distinguished Schools honors – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

Nelda Mundy and Oakbrook elementary schools in the Fairfield-Suisun School District have been named California Distinguished Schools.

“It is quite an honor,” the Solano County Office of Education said in a release.

The California Department of Education selected the schools and reports that 405 elementary schools in the state were eligible to apply for the distinguished school designation this year, the county office said.

Schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria such as designated federal and state accountability measures based on the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act and California’s Academic Performance Index requirements, the county office said.

via Nelda Mundy, Oakbrook earn California Distinguished Schools honors Daily Republic.

Nelda Mundy Elementary invited to apply for Distinguished School – SCOE/Facebook

Nelda Mundy Elementary School is one of 3 schools in Solano County to be invited to apply for Distinguished School status. The California Distinguished School Award identifies and honors those schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap. In order to be invited to apply for Distinguished School honors, schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Academic Performance Index (API) requirements. Each school receives a site visit by a team of educators to validate the full implementation of the submitted practices. On March 21st, Nelda Mundy Elementary School received their site validation visit from a team lead by the Solano County Office of Education. After a full day visiting classrooms, validating their signature practices, and interviews with key stakeholders, the Solano County Office of Education made their recommendation that the school move forward in the evaluation process. The California Department of Education will make the final determination and notify the school later this Spring.

via Nelda Mundy Elementary School is one of… – Solano County Office of Education.