Newport Beach : Newport Harbor High Chosen for State Honor

Newport Harbor High School will be recognized in ceremonies at 3:15 p.m. Thursday as one of California’s “Distinguished Schools” for 1986, officials at Newport-Mesa Unified School District announced.

The state Department of Education this year launched an annual program to recognize the best schools in the state. The selected schools are picked on the basis of academic programs and test results, including the California Assessment Program and Scholastic Aptitude Tests. The winning schools also must have good community relations.

The honored schools are also nominated for later competition at the federal level.

Newport Harbor High was among only 29 high schools honored statewide this year and among only two in Orange County. The other high school honored in Orange County was Woodbridge High in Irvine Unified School District.

The ceremonies Thursday will be at Newport Harbor High, 600 Irvine Ave. in Newport Beach. State Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) will be the featured speaker.

The school will receive a plaque and a flag, called “the distinguished school flag,” from the Department of Education. After the speeches, the Newport Harbor High Jazz Band will perform and there will be a reception for parents, students and visitors.