7 local campuses are honored as California Distinguished Schools

Seven local elementary schools were named 2020 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education for their educational programs and practices.

Ralph E. Hawes Elementary in the Huntington Beach City School District; California, Killybrooke, Paularino and Sonora elementary schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified district; and Circle View and Star View elementary schools in the Ocean View district are among 323 schools statewide receiving the honor.

“These outstanding schools don’t just educate students; they also provide the young people of California the tools they need to be successful after graduation,” state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a statement. “Thanks go to all the staff at these schools — teachers, administrators, classified employees — and parents, who are working together to provide high-quality educational experiences for all of their students.”

The Distinguished Schools program, a component of the California School Recognition Program, recognizes schools based on performance and progress on indicators specified on the California School Dashboard. Indicators include test scores, suspension rates and school conditions and climate. Elementary schools and middle and high schools are recognized in alternate years.

“Our schools have demonstrated significant growth in raising the achievement bar and fostering a culture of acceptance and understanding,” Newport-Mesa Supt. Fred Navarro said in a statement. “They’ve done this by focusing on improving instruction, making decisions with all students in mind, building the staff’s capacity and working together to find the right solutions.”

The California Distinguished Schools, along with California Exemplary Arts Education Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools, National Terrel H. Bell Award winners and National ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Distinguished Schools, will be honored Feb. 10 during an awards ceremony at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.