2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Announces 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools | U.S. Department of Education:

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Announces 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today recognized 335 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015 based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. These schools demonstrate that all students can achieve to high levels.

"This honor recognizes your students' accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success," Duncan said in a video message to the awardees. "Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction, and strong relationships in school and with your community. You represent excellence—in vision, in implementation, and in results—and we want to learn as much as we can from you."

The Department will honor 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony on Nov. 9-10 in Washington, D.C. In its 33-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on more than 8,000 of America's schools.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award plaque affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The award flag gracing a school's building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.

All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates are also at the highest levels.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's subgroups and all students over the past five years. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates for each subgroup are at high levels.

The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction. The U.S. Secretary of Education invites nominated schools to submit an application for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Note To Editors: Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available athttp://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates California

Winners of the 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award 

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today congratulated 29 California public and four private schools that are being recognized as 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

The California winners of the coveted award are among 285 public (traditional, charter, choice, and magnet) schools and 50 private schools announced this morning by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

"California's newly selected Blue Ribbon Schools are among the best in the nation and reflect our state's commitment to preparing students for college and career," Torlakson said. "We celebrate these models of excellence as they shine in the national spotlight. I congratulate all the hardworking students, teachers, parents, staff, and administrators who made this recognition possible."

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

Public schools are nominated by each Chief State School Officer (CSSO), including the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education nominates private schools.

The California schools were recognized as Exemplary High Performing Schools and were required to be performing in the top 15 percent of schools statewide as measured by state assessments.

National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at a national awards ceremony on November 9-10, 2015 in Washington, D.C., where each winner will receive a plaque and flag. Blue Ribbon winners may fly this flag at their schools as a mark of excellence. In its 33-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has presented this award to more than 8,000 of America's schools.

Details of the 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools can be found on the U.S. Department of Education Web site  .

California's National Blue Ribbon Public Schools for 2015

County	District	School
Alameda	Alameda Unified	Alameda Science and Technology Institute
Alameda	Dublin Unified	James Dougherty Elementary
Alameda	Oakland Unified	Montclair Elementary
Alameda	Pleasanton Unified	Vintage Hills Elementary
Contra Costa	Acalanes Union High	Campolindo High
Contra Costa	Lafayette Elementary	Happy Valley Elementary
Contra Costa	Orinda Union Elementary	Del Rey Elementary
Contra Costa	San Ramon Valley Unified	Neil A. Armstrong Elementary
El Dorado	Buckeye Union Elementary	Oak Meadow Elementary
Fresno	Fresno Unified	Manchester Gate
Los Angeles	Antelope Valley Union High	SOAR High (Students On Academic Rise)
Los Angeles	La Cañada Unified	La Cañada High
Los Angeles	Las Virgenes Unified	Yerba Buena Elementary
Los Angeles	Long Beach Unified	Naples Elementary
Los Angeles	Los Angeles Unified	KIPP Raices Academy
Los Angeles	Manhattan Beach Unified	Grand View Elementary
Los Angeles	Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified	Montemalaga Elementary
Los Angeles	Redondo Beach Unified	Alta Vista Elementary
Los Angeles	San Marino Unified	Valentine Elementary
Los Angeles	William S. Hart Union High	Academy of the Canyons
Marin	Reed Union Elementary	Bel Aire Elementary
Nevada	Nevada Joint Union High	William & Marian Ghidotti High
Orange	Santa Ana Unified	Middle College High
Riverside	Riverside Unified	Lake Mathews Elementary
San Bernardino	Chino Valley Unified	Country Springs Elementary
San Diego	Poway Unified	Deer Canyon Elementary
San Joaquin	Lodi Unified	Middle College High
Santa Clara	Evergreen Elementary	James Franklin Smith Elementary
Santa Clara	Mountain View Whisman	Frank L. Huff Elementary

California's National Blue Ribbon Private Schools for 2015

County	City	School
Los Angeles	Chino Hills	Heights Christian Schools Chino Hills campus
Los Angeles	Valencia	Legacy Christian Academy
Orange County	Irvine	New Horizon School
San Diego County	Solana Beach	Santa Fe Christian Middle School

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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, September 29, 2015

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr15/yr15rel74.asp