3 Local Campuses Named California Distinguished Schools

Winners of the 1993 California Distinguished Schools award, the California Department of Education’s statewide recognition program, include three elementary schools in the Westside.

Beverly Vista Elementary School and El Rodeo Elementary School, both in the Beverly Hills Unified School District, and Linwood E. Howe Elementary School in the Culver City Unified School District were honored during a ceremony recently as some of the state’s most outstanding public schools.

Only 4%, or 206, of California’s elementary schools were chosen to receive the award, based on education programs or California Assessment Program (CAP) scores.

“In these times of economic hardship, it is especially important to recognize public schools that are addressing the complex challenges our students will face in the future,” acting State Supt. of Public Instruction William D. Dawson said in a press release.

Linwood E. Howe school underwent a rigorous application process outlining the school’s education programs before being chosen a winner. Beverly Vista won the award based on exemplary CAP scores, and outstanding score improvement. El Rodeo won on exemplary CAP performance alone.

Winning schools received a plaque, flag and certificate at the ceremony May 20 in Anaheim. Nominees for the U.S. Department of Education’s nationwide recognition program, Blue Ribbon Schools, were also honored. Culver City High School is among the handful of nominees from Los Angeles County.