Local News in Brief : 2 Schools to Vie for Honors

The Silver Spur Elementary School in Rancho Palos Verdes and Taper Avenue Elementary in San Pedro are among 47 schools statewide that will compete in the National Elementary School Recognition Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

California schools Supt. Bill Honig said schools were selected on the basis of their test scores, student achievement in math and reading, and exemplary programs for developing the educational goals and character of their youngsters. He said federal educators will review the records of candidates from all the states, visit schools selected as finalists and then announce the national winners in May.

Silver Spur is in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District and Taper is in Los Angeles Unified.

Another Peninsula district school, Ridgecrest Intermediate, also in Rancho Palos Verdes, was among 109 California schools selected by Honig’s office to participate in a “Partnership School” program designed to improve middle-grade instruction. Honig, who has given high priority to middle-school reform, said schools in the program will work with universities, educational foundations and the state Department of Education on new ideas for better preparing children for high school and higher institutions.