21 Schools Nominated for Award

Twenty-one Orange County schools are in the running for the California Distinguished School award, one of the state’s most prestigious designations.

Winners will be announced this spring after site visits are conducted at the 230 schools nominated statewide. Receiving the award is a prerequisite for participation in the national Blue Ribbon Award selection process.

To be named a distinguished school, campuses must be evaluated on academic performance, standards, parent and community involvement and use of technology. The state recognizes elementary schools and secondary schools in alternating years.

This year’s Orange County nominees are Arthur F. Corey Elementary in the Buena Park Unified School District; Del Obispo, Marian Bergeson and Oak Grove elementary schools in Capistrano Unified; William E. Ketter Elementary in the Huntington Beach City School District; Springbrook and University Park elementary schools in Irvine Unified; and Francis Hopkinson and J.H. McGaugh elementary schools in Los Alamitos Unified.

Other nominees are Harbor View, Heinz Kaiser, Killybrooke and Victoria elementary schools in Newport-Mesa Unified; College View and Village View elementary schools in the Ocean View Elementary School District; Chapman Hills Elementary, Crescent Primary, McPherson Magnet and Panorama Elementary schools in Orange Unified; Montevideo Elementary School in Saddleback Valley Unified; and Arroyo Elementary in the Tustin Unified School District.