Oak Valley Middle Named California Distinguished School

Oak Valley Middle School has been named a California Distinguished School, one of 97 middle and high schools to receive the honor on Tuesday.

"These schools are being recognized for attaining high levels of performance and sustained growth, and for making significant progress in closing the academic achievement gap," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in an announcement.

Ten San Diego County schools were among the honorees announced Tuesday.

Oak Valley joins the long list of Poway Unified School District campuses to receive the honor, including Mt. Carmel, Poway and Rancho Bernardo high schools, and, most recently, Midland and Stone Ranch elementaries in 2010.

The award is given to elementary and secondary schools in alternating years.

Distinguished schools are chosen based on their Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress scores, which gauge student test performance, and two signature practices that increase student achievement and narrow the achievement gap.

"Becoming a Distinguished School is a direct reflection of the dedication, hard work and vision of each school's education community. They have succeeded despite a bleak economic environment and ahve endeavored to maintain their momentum and focus," Torlakson said.

The award is part of the California School Recognition Program which began in 1986. More than 5,300 public schools have been named or re-named Distinguished Schools.

Oak Valley and this year's 96 other winners will be honored at a May 20 ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. For more on Distinguished Schools and lists of past winners, see here.

Other San Diego County honorees:

• Coronado High
• River Valley Charter
• Albert Einstein Academy Middle
• Preuss School UCSD
• San Diego International Studies
• Diegueno Middle
• San Dieguito High Academy
• Rancho del Rey Middle
• Valley Center Middle