State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates
California Schools Recognized as 2016
National Blue Ribbon Schools
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today congratulated 29 California public schools that have been chosen as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This coveted award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.
“This recognition for California is a testament to the hard work of our educators, administrators, and communities to prepare our students for both 21st century careers and college,” Torlakson said. “We are making progress, but we must keep our momentum going because we have much work to do.”
The California winners are among 279 public (traditional, charter, choice, and magnet) schools and 50 private schools announced this morning by U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. In its 34-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has presented this award to fewer than 8,500 schools.
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 national tests.
- Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students over the past five years.
Public schools are nominated by top education officials in each state, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools.
National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at a national awards ceremony on November 7-8, 2016, 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 widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.
More information about the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program can be found on the U.S. Department of Education Web site 
.
.California's National Blue Ribbon Public Schools for 2016
| County | District | School |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | Oakland USD | Hillcrest Elementary |
| Alameda | Oakland USD | Thornhill Elementary |
| Contra Costa | Mt. Diablo USD | Strandwood Elementary |
| Fresno | Fresno USD | Edison Computech |
| Los Angeles | Hawthorne | Hawthorne Math And Science Academy |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles USD | Kipp Los Angeles College Preparatory |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles USD | Wonderland Avenue Elementary |
| Los Angeles | Palos Verdes Peninsula | Point Vicente Elementary |
| Los Angeles | Santa Monica-Malibu | Edison Elementary |
| Los Angeles | West Covina USD | San Jose Charter Academy |
| Marin | San Rafael City Elementary | Sun Valley Elementary |
| Orange | Garden Grove | A. J. Cook Elementary |
| Orange | Los Alamitos | Francis Hopkinson Elementary |
| Orange | Tustin USD | Tustin Memorial Elementary |
| Placer | Rocklin USD | Rocklin Academy |
| San Bernardino | San Bernardino City | Richardson Prep Hi |
| San Bernardino | Victor Valley Union High | University Preparatory |
| San Diego | Chula Vista Elementary | Arroyo Vista Charter |
| San Diego | Poway USD | Creekside Elementary |
| San Diego | San Diego USD | La Jolla Elementary |
| San Diego | San Marcos USD | Paloma Elementary |
| San Francisco | San Francisco USD | Lafayette Elementary |
| San Mateo | Menlo Park City | Laurel Elementary |
| Santa Barbara | Los Olivos Elementary | Los Olivos Elementary |
| Santa Clara | Evergreen Elementary | Evergreen Elementary |
| Sonoma | Santa Rosa High | Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter |
| Ventura | Conejo Valley USD | Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences |
| Ventura | Conejo Valley USD | Westlake High |
| Ventura | Simi Valley USD | Vista Elementary |
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, September 28, 2016
CA 2016 National Blue Ribbon Public Schools - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson Thanks Governor for Signing Student Suicide Prevention Bill
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today thanked Governor Jerry Brown for signing legislation requiring schools that serve students from grades 7 to 12 to adopt suicide prevention policies.
Torlakson supported AB 2246 by Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell, D-Long Beach and Chair of the Assembly Education Committee. The bill, signed on Monday, September 26, requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to develop and maintain a model suicide prevention policy.
“With this change, we can better identify students in need, get them help, and keep them safe,” Torlakson said. “One of my top priorities is serving the needs of the whole child, including their mental health needs. This bill is a big step forward in our ongoing efforts to help our students.”
“As classroom teacher, I know from experience that educators often serve as the first line of defense when a student is suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts,” said Assembly Member O’Donnell. “AB 2246 will provide parents, teachers, and schools with the tools they need to help save the lives of at-risk youth.”
Torlakson is a longtime supporter of expanding mental health services and preventing suicides. When Torlakson served in the California State Senate in 2004, he was state co-chair of the campaign for Proposition 63, a measure that increased income taxes on the wealthy to fund mental health programs.
As State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Torlakson convened a Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup. The group of 40 experts has conducted 20 free trainings in suicide prevention across the state for more than 500 teachers.
Earlier this year, CDE released the Healthy Kids Survey, which describes how students feel about school and how they rank their school environment.
The survey showed schools need to focus more attention on better meeting the needs of youth. For example, two indicators of depression risk showed little change since the last survey two years ago.
Nearly one-fourth of seventh graders and around one-third of ninth and eleventh graders reported feelings of chronic sadness or hopelessness. And, almost 20 percent of high school students had seriously contemplated suicide.
Torlakson in 2014 released a letter encouraging school districts to adopt suicide prevention policies. Under the new law, each district will be required to adopt suicide policies beginning with the 2017-18 school year.
In 2014, there were nearly 2,300 suicide attempts by students 15 to 19 years old in California.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr16/yr16rel67.asp
Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100