30 CA Schools Named National Blue Ribbon Schools

CALIFORNIA — Thirty schools in California were recognized this week by the U.S. Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2019, honoring overall academic success and progress in closing achievement gaps.

Only 312 public and 50 non-public schools across the country were chosen for the distinction.

The designation is based on student achievement and graduation rates, honoring schools for their overall high scores on state and national assessment tests, as well as for their ability to close achievement gaps between subgroups of students.

Education officials in each state, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education nominate schools for the National Blue Ribbon Schools program each year.

"We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives," Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in a statement. "As a National Blue Ribbon School, your school demonstrates what is possible when committed educators hold all students and staff to high standards and create vibrant, innovative cultures of teaching and learning."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond also congratulated the state's 30 Blue Ribbon Schools for their investments in learning and teaching environments.

"This recognition is well-deserved, and special thanks go to the educators and the school communities that meet students' unique needs in order for all of their students to reach their full potential," he said.

Now in its 37th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized more than 9,000 schools. The schools will be honored during a two-day event Nov. 14-15 in Washington, D.C.

These are the 2019 California schools that received the designation:

1. Fullerton: Acacia Elementary School, Fullerton Elementary School District
2. Hollister: Accelerated Achievement Academy, Hollister School District
3. Sacramento: Arnold Adreani Elementary School, Elk Grove Unified School District
4. South Pasadena: Arroyo Vista Elementary School, South Pasadena Unified School District
5. Carlsbad: Aviara Oaks Elementary School, Carlsbad Unified School District
6. Huntington Beach: Circle View Elementary School, Ocean View School District
7. Los Angeles: Clover Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District
8. Etiwanda: Day Creek Intermediate School, Etiwanda Elementary School District
9. Del Mar: Del Mar Hills Academy, Del Mar Union School District
10. Laguna Beach: El Morro Elementary School, Laguna Beach Unified School District
11. Stockton: Elkhorn School, Lodi Unified School District
12. Los Angeles: Fairburn Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District
13. San Jose: Forest Hill Elementary School, Campbell Union School District
14. Cerritos: Frank C. Leal Elementary School, ABC Unified School District
15. Cerritos: Joe A. Gonsalves Elementary School, ABC Unified School District
16. Fresno: Liberty Elementary School, Clovis Unified School District
17. Arcadia: Longley Way Elementary School, Arcadia Unified School District
18. San Francisco: Lowell Alternative High School, San Francisco Unified School District
19. La Crescenta: Monte Vista Elementary School, Glendale Unified School District
20. South Pasadena: Monterey Hills Elementary School, South Pasadena Unified School District
21. Valencia: Oak Hills Elementary School, Newhall School District
22. Cypress: Oxford Academy, Anaheim Union High School District
23. Stevenson Ranch: Pico Canyon Elementary School, Newhall School District
24. Fullerton: Robert C. Fisler School, Fullerton Elementary School District
25. Pacific Grove: Robert H. Down Elementary School, Pacific Grove Unified School District
26. Stevenson Ranch: Stevenson Ranch Elementary School, Newhall School District
27. Irvine: Stonegate Elementary School, Irvine Unified School District
28. La Jolla: Torrey Pines Elementary School, San Diego Unified School District
29. Redondo Beach: Tulita Elementary School, Redondo Beach Unified School District
30. Oakland: Yu Ming Charter School, Alameda County Office of Education