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Two CVUSD schools Last week, nine schools from Simi Valley to Calabasas earned the title California Distinguished School, one of the state’s highest awards in education. Of the state’s nearly 2,300 public schools, 465 schools were invited to apply and 288 did so. Among the criteria for the award, which is valid for four years, is a school’s Academic Performance Index (API) and Adequate Yearly Progress, measurements based on the No Child Left Behind requirements; a high level of parent participation; and stimulating activities for students. The highest-scoring schools that apply for the award receive a visit from a judging committee. Secondary and elementary schools are recognized every other year. Robert Fraisse is superintendent of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, where Redwood middle and Newbury Park high schools earned the award. Fraisse said that API scores are just one indication of a good school, although in the last few years the scores have become increasingly significant in determining whether a school receives the honor. "To get the award, it takes a blend of great kids, terrific staff and great school leadership, said Fraisse. "If you have those three ingredients, you’re going to be a distinguished school sooner or later." To illustrate the difficulty in getting the award, Fraisse said Colina Middle School, a previous two-time winner, was shy one point in qualifying for a site visit from the judging committee. In the 3,700-student Oak Park Unified School District, Oak Park High School and Medea Creek Middle School—which has won three times before—were named California Distinguished Schools. Superintendent Anthony Knight said the award selection process has become increasingly more rigorous and the importance of student performance more dominant. And although all OPUSD schools at one time or another have received the award, it’s not old hat to win, he said. "So it’s very meaningful. It is a big deal," Knight said. Applying for the award—which requires as many as four writers and input from everyone involved with the school, including parents—is in itself a valuable gauge, because it indicates where the school is headed, he said. Donald Zimring, superintendent of Las Virgenes Unified School District, where Arthur E. Wright Middle School and Calabasas High School won the award, agreed that the application process is "rigorous," one where dozens and dozens of hours are spent filling it out. Zimring attributed his schools’ success to supportive parents, a talented staff, a rigorous curriculum and having high expectations of the students. "And they deliver," he said of the students, "and when you put that together you have a remarkable school." More high schools than ever before in the award’s 20-year history were designated California Distinguished Schools, according the California Department of Education’s website. Locally, that trend is evidenced by the fact that all three Simi Valley high schools were given the award. Don Gaudioso, director of secondary education for Simi Valley Unified School District, said all three schools previously won the award, but this is the first time they’ve won it concurrently. Gaudioso said the reason is that teachers from all three schools share their ideas with one another. For example, the high school history teachers attend staff development together and exchange those strategies and techniques that are working in their classrooms. "They’re really doing a lot of planning and implementing of things together," he said. The state will honor the schools at a ceremony in Anaheim on May 20. |
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