9 Area Schools Earn Distinguished Rating

Nine Ventura County elementary schools have been designated Distinguished Schools by the State Department of Education.

Statewide, 211 schools were chosen for the honor based upon interviews and an application asking administrators such things as how their curriculum is developed, how they deal with special needs students and how they provide support to teachers, parents and pupils. This year marks the second time elementary schools have been evaluated under a system that takes into account more than test scores.

“What we were getting when we just looked at test scores was primarily wealthy schools,” Department of Education spokeswoman Carol Kennedy said. “We heard stories that some schools pumped up test scores by doing things like shipping out their low-achievers on test days.”

Kennedy said a new, more subjective approach to the 10-year-old program allows schools to evaluate themselves as part of the application process. She said 75% of the evaluation takes place at the local level through interviews with county school officials, who also look at the applications.

Each Distinguished School will receive a wooden sign to place on its grounds and will serve as a model for other schools, Kennedy said.

“I’m excited. It’s nice to see schools that do well getting some recognition,” said Conejo Valley Unified Supt. Jerry Gross, whose district contains the greatest number of Distinguished Schools. He attributes the award to parents who are involved, administrators who pay attention to state guidelines for running elementary schools and teachers who are experts in one subject that they can share with several classes.

Named as Distinguished Schools are Acacia elementary, Meadows elementary and Wildwood elementary in the Conejo Valley Unified District; Hollywood Beach elementary in the Hueneme Elementary District; Brookside and Oak Hills in the Oak Park Unified District; Topa Topa elementary in the Ojai District; Bedford Open School in the Pleasant Valley District; and Pierpont elementary in the Ventura Unified District.