Exceptional and Public

The words “academic excellence” do not often appear in the same sentence as “public schools,” at least in most people’s minds. That’s all the more reason to call attention to the outstanding performances of some Valley public school students.

North Hollywood High School placed second--again--in the National Science Bowl. As if handling two days of fast-paced questions on science and mathematics were not impressive enough, a second North Hollywood team became the first from California to make it to the Fed Challenge, another game-show-style contest, this one requiring students to actually understand (and forecast) the economy.

Both teams drew their members from North Hollywood’s magnet school for highly gifted students, but that is not the only place you’ll find exceptional public school students--or teachers. San Fernando High School senior Nora Cadena is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who know nothing about the American education system. She works 25 hours a week while attending high school. She’s a teenage mom. And she was accepted this spring at MIT.

Statistics said Cadena would be a dropout. Her own determination, and the encouragement of history teacher Marco Torres, said otherwise.

Excellent public schools? It’s not impossible. Now if only we can make it not the exception.