LOS ANGELES (CNS) - More than 100 elementary schools in Los Angeles County and 35 in Orange County were among 323 learning institutions statewide that earned a spot on the ``2020 Distinguished Schools'' list drawn up by the California Department of Education, it was announced today.
``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,'' State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony 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.''
Placement on the list generally requires a school to exhibit ``exceptional student performance'' or closure of the achievement gap from one academic year to the next, according to the DOE.
Administrators determine eligibility by examining ``California School Dashboard Indicators,'' which track trends in test scores per campus, as well as suspension rates and learning environment conditions. The California Assessment of Student Performance & Progress is one of the key metrics.
``Distinguished School awardees represent examples of not just excellent teaching, learning and collaboration, but also highly successful school climate efforts ranging from real-time conflict resolution to positive behavior intervention,'' according to a DOE statement.