Countywide : 26 Schools Honored by Education Board

Twenty-six Orange County schools were chosen to receive California Distinguished Elementary School Awards from the state Board of Education, it was announced Friday by state Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig.

The winners were selected for their high performance or improvement in the California Assessment Program tests for grades 3, 6 and 8, which measure skills in reading and mathematics. They also were judged on their improvement in student attendance, and in other improvements they made compared to similar schools.

Before the selection of the winners, each school nominated for the award was visited and reviewed by educators from the state Department of Education and county offices of education.

Representatives from the winning schools will attend a ceremony at the Anaheim Hilton and Towers on May 25. The winners will also be nominated for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Elementary School Recognition Program.

The Orange County winners are:

Barton Elementary, Madison Elementary and Stoddard Elementary schools in the Anaheim Elementary School District; William E. Fanning Elementary in the Brea-Olinda Unified School District; Gilbert Elementary in the Buena Park Elementary School District; Steve Luther Elementary in the Cypress Elementary School District; Fred Moiola Elementary in the Fountain Valley Elementary School District, and Bonita Canyon Elementary in the Irvine Unified School District.

Also, Robert M. Pyles Elementary and Jonas E. Salk Elementary in the Magnolia Elementary School District; Newport Elementary and Sonora Elementary in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District; Harbour View Elementary, Marine View Elementary, Vista View Elementary and Circle View Elementary in the Ocean View Elementary School District; Esplanade Elementary, Prospect Elementary and Villa Park Elementary in the Orange Unified School District; Van Buren Elementary in the Placentia Unified School District; Marguerite O’Neill Elementary and San Joaquin Elementary in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District; Muir Fundamental Elementary in the Santa Ana Unified School District; Cerritos Elementary in the Savanna Elementary School District; and Arroyo Elementary and Helen Estock Elementary in the Tustin Unified School District.