Three Campbell schools have been named California Distinguished Schools, adding some local recognition to a statewide program.
"The schools we are recognizing ... demonstrate the incredible commitment of California's teachers, administrators, and school employees to provide a world-class education to every student, in spite of the financial hardships facing our state and our schools," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson in a release. "Their dedication is inspiring, and I applaud and admire their passion and persistence."
's Forest Hill and Marshall Lane schools as well as Moreland School District's Country Lane Elementary School were among the 31 Santa Clara County elementary schools included in the 387 elementary schools statewide receiving this annual recognition.
"It's a reflection of the hard work that each school and their staff have put in," says Campbell Union School District Superintendent Dr. Eric Andrew.
The state award identifies and honors schools that have demonstrated educational excellence and progress in closing the academic achievement gap between Caucasian and Asian students and Latino and African American students.
These three Campbell schools outperformed the state in closing this gap.
"We are honored to have Country Lane receive this wonderful recognition," said Moreland School District Superintendent Mark Barmore in a release. "This is a highly desirable school both within and outside our district and I am proud of all the exemplary work of our teachers, staff and especially our wonderful students for making this possible."
Once named "California Distinguished Schools," these learning institutions then agree to share their best practices as well as programming with other interested schools.
The program recognizes elementary and high schools on alternate years. Local high schools will have their shot at being named "Distinguished" in 2013.
The 2012 recipients will be honored on May 30 at a regional program hosted by the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
Below are charts for each school as well as the statewide scores for elementary schools, each showing the Academic Performance Index or API scores and growth over the last six years.
Schools in California are graded on a 200 to 1,000 point system, with 800 being the state benchmark.
Forest Hill School 2005 2010 2011 Total +/- Schoolwide 871 918 931 +60 Latino students 724 832 843 +119 Socioeconomically disadvantaged students *N/A 818 828 English Language Learners *N/A 923 937 Students with Disabilities *N/A 787 799 Marshall Lane School 2005 2010 2011 Total +/- Schoolwide 905 959 953 +48 Latino students *N/A 887 864 Socioeconomically disadvantaged students *N/A 909 840 English Language Learners 889 958 939 +50 Students with Disabilities *N/A 893 831 Country Lane School 2005 2010 2011 Total +/- Schoolwide 916 941 950 +34 Latino students *N/A 805 874 Socioeconomically disadvantaged students *N/A 796 833 English Language Learners *N/A 915 925 Students with Disabilities *N/A 789 804 State of California 2005 2010 2011 Total +/- Statewide 738 800 809 +71 Latino students 672 752 763 +91 Socioeconomically disadvantaged students 670 748 759 +89 English Language Learners 662 743 756 +94 Students with Disabilities 559 648 662 +103*The number of these students for this year are not "numerically significant."
