2 Schools Nominated for U.S. Recognition
Two elementary schools in Thousand Oaks were the only Ventura County schools nominated this year for prestigious National Blue Ribbon School standing, as awarded by the federal Department of Education.
Meadows and Wildwood elementary schools are among California’s 46 nominees to the program, said Delaine Eastin, state superintendent of public education.
“If we get the award for either of the two, it will be a first for us,” said Barbara Ryan, director of elementary education for the 18,574-student Conejo Valley Unified School District. “We’ve had other schools nominated, and they’ve gotten as far as the site visit, but zero have been selected. So we’re very excited about this.”
A panel of experts in Washington will review and winnow the national pool of applications in mid-January. Based on the applications, some schools will receive site visits in the spring. National Blue Ribbon schools will be announced by June 2.
The schools are judged on academic standards, student achievement, teacher qualifications, school leadership and parental involvement. Last year, 39 schools received the coveted designation.
The program, begun in 1982, honors elementary schools in odd-numbered years and secondary schools in even-numbered years.
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