Windemere Ranch Middle School Wins National Honor

The United States Department of Education announced Tuesday morning that Windemere Ranch Middle School is one of only 24 schools in California, and one of only 337 nationwide to be selected as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School.

“This is our tenth year and from the start we have strived for academic excellence. We are proud of the level of achievement we have obtained and the continuous growth that we have sustained,” said David Bolin, Principal at Windemere Ranch Middle School. “ We have a committed, dedicated, and passionate staff and community who all contribute to our success.”

The federal Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools from elementary through high school.

“I commend these amazing schools and their commitment to providing the kind of learning environment in which teachers can excel and students can achieve,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said. “They have brought out the very best in their students and themselves. I am proud of their success and hope they relish this moment to shine in the national spotlight.”

The winners will be honored at a national awards ceremony on November 10-11, 2014 in Washington, D.C., where each winner will receive a plaque and flag.

The nominated schools must be certified as meeting one of two eligibility criteria:

• Exemplary High-Performing, defined as the achievement of the school’s students in the most recent year tested placing the school among the highest-performing in the state on assessments of reading (or English-language arts) and mathematics. Disaggregated results for student subgroups, including students from disadvantaged backgrounds, must be similar to the results for all students tested.

• Exemplary-Improving, defined as schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have improved student performance to high levels in English-language arts and mathematics on state assessments or assessments referenced against national norms. “Disadvantaged” means students eligible for free or reduced-priced meals, who receive Title I services, are limited English proficient, migrant, or in need of special services.

For more details on the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site.

—Information, logo submitted by San Ramon Valley Unified School District