La Mesa Elementary School Named CA Distinguished School

LA MESA, CA — A total of 17 elementary schools in San Diego County, including one in La Mesa, have been named California Distinguished Schools for 2020, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced.

The state honored 323 elementary schools across the state for its 2020 California Distinguished Schools Award Program, including San Diego area schools in the Chula Vista Elementary, La Mesa-Spring Valley, Lakeside Union Elementary, San Diego Unified, Santee and Vista Unified school districts.

These are the schools in San Diego County that were recognized:

• Eastlake Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary School District
• Heritage Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary School District
• Valle Lindo Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary School District
• Maryland Avenue Elementary, La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
• Lakeside Farms Elementary, Lakeside Union Elementary School District
• Birney Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• Crown Point Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• Dingeman Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• Ericson Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• Hancock Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• Hawthorne Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• Jerabek Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• Jonas Salk Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• Rolando Park Elementary, San Diego Unified School District
• SD Global Vision Academy, San Diego Unified School District
• PRIDE Academy at Prospect Avenue, Santee School District
• Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology, Vista Unified School District

"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," Thurmond said.

"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."

Schools are recognized for their performance and progress based on factors that include test scores and suspension rates, and conditions and climate. The state honors elementary schools and middle and high schools in alternating years, so this year's honorees will hold their titles until at least 2021.

These California Distinguished Schools, along with California Exemplary Arts Education Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools, National Terrel H. Bell Awardees, and National ESEA Distinguished Schools, will be honored Feb. 10, 2020, during an awards ceremony at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, according to Thurmond's office.