Latest news with #CaliforniaDistinguishedSchoolsAward
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What are the best elementary schools in SLO County? See the latest rankings
This story is part of SLO Tribune's Parents Central, our expanding coverage for local parents. We're tackling issues that matter to you the most, explaining the "what it means," from school budgets to children's health. We also want to have fun: Send us your best tips for local parents and things to do. Email tips@ Where are the top schools for children to get an education in San Luis Obispo County? The county is home to several elementary schools that have been honored by the California Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education for academic excellence. Ratings and review site Niche recently ranked the top public and private elementary schools in San Luis Obispo County for 2025. Here's what to know about the top schools in SLO: Los Ranchos Elementary School in San Luis Obispo was named one of the top schools in the nation in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Education. The elementary school was one of 356 National Blue Ribbon Schools in the United States, the agency announced in September. The award program honors 'high-performing schools and schools that are making great strides in closing achievement gaps,' the federal Education Department said on its website. Los Ranchos Elementary — part of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District — was the only school in San Luis Obispo County to receive National Blue Ribbon Schools honors in 2024, according to the list of award winners. Los Ranchos Elementary Principal James McMillen told The Tribune the school succeeded because of its individualized approach, which gives students direct support and attention to achieve their academic goals. The California Department of Education recently recognized two elementary schools in SLO County as exceptional places to learn. Pacheco Elementary School in San Luis Obispo and Monarch Grove Elementary School in Los Osos received the California Distinguished Schools Award, according to a news release from the state education agency. Both schools are part of San Luis Coastal Unified. They were among more than 330 campuses across the state to receive the award, which celebrates schools that have demonstrated academic excellence and closed achievement gaps. 'It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 336 elementary schools for their efforts to provide exemplary public education to all students,' state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in the release. 'Excellent elementary schools play a critical role in the life outcomes of our young people.' Niche reviewed both public and private schools and school districts for its 2025 rankings. Cayucos Elementary School was No. 1 on Niche's list of the top 10 public elementary schools in SLO County. The campus serves students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Coastal Christian School in Pismo Beach earned the top spot on Niche's list of the best private schools serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade in SLO County. Niche rated San Luis Coastal as the best school district in San Luis Obispo County. The review site said it based its rankings on 'rigorous analysis of academic and student life data' from the U.S. Department of Education. It also looked at millions of reviews from students and parents. Niche doled out A+ to D- grades to local schools by considering diversity, teachers, state test scores and overall quality of the school district, among other factors. These were the best public elementary schools in San Luis Obispo County, according to Niche: Cayucos Elementary School in Cayucos Teach Elementary School in San Luis Obispo Bellevue-Sante Fe Charter School in San Luis Obispo Monarch Grove Elementary School in San Luis Obispo Sinsheimer Elementary School in San Luis Obispo Los Ranchos Elementary School in San Luis Obispo Pleasant Valley Elementary School in San Miguel C.L. Smith Elementary School in San Luis Obispo Bishop's Peak Elementary School in San Luis Obispo Hawthorne Elementary School in San Luis Obispo Niche only graded a few private institutions offering educating elementary-age students in the county. According to the review site, these were the top private schools serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade in SLO County: Coastal Christian School in Pismo Beach San Luis Obispo Classical Academy in San Luis Obispo Acts Advanced Christian Training Schools in Atascadero Here are the top school districts in San Luis Obispo County, according to Niche: San Luis Coastal Unified School District Templeton Unified School District Lucia Mar Unified School District Paso Robles Unified School District Atascadero Unified School District Coast Unified School District Shandon Joint Unified School District
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
These Southern California elementary schools made the 2025 California Distinguished list
The Brief State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced that 336 elementary schools have been selected for the 2025 California Distinguished Schools Program. Schools were chosen based on factors such as academic achievement and positive school climate. The recognized schools will be celebrated at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 30. LOS ANGELES - The California Department of Education has revealed the 336 elementary schools honored with the 2025 California Distinguished Schools Award. The award recognizes the school's efforts in closing achievement gaps and demonstrating exceptional student performance. What we know The California Distinguished Schools Program, established in 1985, is a key recognition initiative for exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees. This year, 336 elementary schools have been selected for their outstanding contributions to public education. SUGGESTED: USC implements hiring freeze, more budget cuts amid Trump funding threats The program identifies schools based on their performance on state indicators specified on the California School Dashboard, focusing on academic achievement, positive school climate, and participation in statewide assessments. Southern California Schools Here are the SoCal schools by county and district that made the list: ABC Unified, Cerritos Elementary Arcadia Unified, Camino Grove Elementary Arcadia Unified, Longley Way Elementary Bonita Unified, Gladstone Elementary Burbank Unified, Providencia Elementary Claremont Unified, Chaparral Elementary Claremont Unified, Sumner Elementary Compton Unified, Tibby Elementary Compton Unified, Roosevelt Elementary Covina-Valley Unified, Manzanita Elementary Culver City Unified, Linwood E. Howe Elementary Culver City Unified, La Ballona Elementary East Whittier City Elementary, Orchard Dale Elementary El Monte City, Legore Elementary El Rancho Unified, Birney Tech Academy Garvey Elementary, Duff Language Magnet Academy Glendale Unified, Verdugo Woodlands Elementary Hacienda la Puente Unified, Wedgeworth Elementary Las Virgenes Unified, Bay Laurel Elementary Las Virgenes Unified, Sumac Elementary Las Virgenes Unified, Willow Elementary Lawndale Elementary, William Anderson Elementary LA County Office of Education, Lashon Academy LA County Office of Education, Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy LA Unified, Franklin Avenue Elementary LA Unified, Beckford Charter for Enriched Studies LA Unified, Third Street Elementary LA Unified, Community Magnet Charter Elementary LA Unified, Warner Avenue Elementary LA Unified, Open Charter Magnet LA Unified, Castle Heights Elementary LA Unified, Hesby Oaks Leadership Charter LA Unified, Colfax Charter Elementary LA Unified, Porter Ranch Community LA Unified, Carpenter Community Charter LA Unified, Kentwood Elementary LA Unified, ICEF Vista Elementary Academy LA Unified, Multnomah Street Elementary LA Unified, Sierra Vista Elementary LA Unified, San Jose Street Elementary LA Unified, ISANA Palmati Academy LA Unified, Stagg Street Elementary LA Unified, Allesandro Elementary LA Unified, Panorama City Elementary LA Unified, Newcastle Elementary LA Unified, Jaime Escalante Elementary LA Unified, Hoover Street Elementary LA Unified, Rockdale Visual & Performing Arts Magnet LA Unified, Gates Street Elementary LA Unified, Annalee Avenue Elementary LA Unified, City Terrace Elementary LA Unified, Dorris Place Elementary LA Unified PUC Community Charter Elementary LA Unified, Brocktown Avenue Elementary LA Unified, Brooklyn Avenue LA Unified, Figueroa Street Elementary LA Unified, One Hundred Twenty-Second Street Elementary LA Unified, ISANA Cardinal Academy LA Unified, N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts LA Unified, Aragon Avenue Elementary LA Unified, ISANA Octavia Academy LA Unified, Magnolia Science Academy 7 LA Unified, Gledhill Street Elementary LA Unified, Alexandria Avenue Elementary LA Unified, Chase Street Elementary LA Unified, Coldwater Canyon Elementary LA Unified, Malabar Street Elementary LA Unified, Nevin Avenue Elementary LA Unified, Tulsa Street Elementary LA Unified, Bonita Street Elementary LA Unified, Hubbard Street Elementary LA Unified, Rosemont Avenue Elementary LA Unified, Reseda Elementary LA Unified, Soto Street Elementary LA Unified, Danube Avenue Elementary LA Unified, Westside Global Awareness Magnet LA Unified, Seventh Street Elementary Arts Integration Magnet LA Unified, Vermont Avenue Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified, Pacific Elementary Newhall, Old Orchard Elementary Newhall, Meadows Elementary Newhall, Pico Canyon Elementary Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified, Cornerstone Pedregal Elementary Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified, Silver Spur Elementary Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified, Montemalaga Elementary Paramount Unified, Howard Tanner Pasadena Unified, Field (Eugene) Elementary Pasadena Unified, Altadena Elementary Pomona Unified, Pantera Elementary Redondo Beach Unified, Birney Elementary Redondo Beach Unified, Jefferson Elementary Redondo Beach Unified, Lincoln Elementary Rosemead Elementary, Emma W. Shuey Elementary San Gabriel Unified, Wilson Elementary San Marino Unified, Valentine Elementary Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, Edison Elementary Saugus Union, Cedarcreek Elementary Saugu Union, Rosedell Elementary Saugus Union, Plum Canyon Elementary Saugus Union, Mountainview Elementary Saugus Union, West Creek Academy Saugus Union, North Park Elementary South Pasadena Unified, Marengo Elementary South Pasadena Unified, Monterey Hills Elementary Sulphur Springs Union, Leona H. Cox Community Elementary Torrance Unified, Yukon Elementary Torrance Unified, John Adams Elementary Torrance Unified, Towers Elementary Torrance Unified, Arlington Elementary Walnut Valley Unified, Walnut Elementary West Covina Unified, Merced Elementary West Covina Unified, San Jose Charter Academy West Covina Unified, Orangewood Elementary Whittier City, Mill School and Technology Academy Wright Elementary, Robert L. Stevens Elementary Long Beach Unified, Henry Long Beach Unified, Fremont Elementary Anaheim Elementary, Jefferson (Thomas) Elementary Brea-Olinda Unified, Olinda Elementary Capistrano Unified, Oso Grande Elementary Capistrano Unified, Philip J. Reilly Elementary Capistrano Unified, Truman Benedict Elementary Fullerton Elementary, Beechwood Elementary Fullerton Elementary, Robert C. Fisler Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Excelsior Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Loyal Barker Elementary Garden Grove Unified, A.G. Cook Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Patton Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Susan B. Anthony Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Merton E. Hill Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Brookhurst Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Louis G. Zeyen Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Ocia A. Peters Elementary Garden Grove Unified, Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary Huntington Beach City Elementary, Ralph E. Hawes Elementary Irvine Unified, Plaza Vista Irvine Unified, Bonita Canyon Elementary Irvine Unified, Eastshore Elementary Irvine Unified, Portola Springs Elementary La Habra City Elementary, Arbolita Elementary Los Alamitos Unified, Rossmoor Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified, Heinz Kaiser Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified, Adams Elementary Orange County Department of Education, Irvine International Academy Orange County Department of Education, Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley Orange Unified, Nohl Canyon Elementary Orange Unified, Taft Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, Golden Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, Sierra Vista Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, Lakeview Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified, De Portola Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified, Robinson Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified, Rancho Canada Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified, Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary Santa Ana Unified, Fremont Elementary Tustin Unified, Tustin Ranch Elementary Tustin Unified, Ladera Elementary Tustin Unified, Red Hill Elementary Tustin Unified, Orchard Hills Tustin Unified, Benjamin Beswick Elementary Beaumont Unified, Starlight Elementary Beaumont Unified, Palm Innovation Academy Corona-Norco Unified, Temescal Valley Elementary Corona-Norco Unified, Benjamin Franklin Elementary Corona-Norco Unified, Prado View Elementary Desert Sands Unified, Gerald R. Ford Elementary Menifee Union, Taawila Elementary Moreno Valley Unified, North Ridge Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified, Monte Vista Elementary Riverside Unified, Magnolia Elementary Alta Loma Elementary, Jasper Elementary Alta Loma Elementary, Victoria Groves Elementary Chino Valley Unified, Country Springs Elementary Chino Valley Unified, Butterfield Ranch Elementary Chino Valley Unified, Eagle Canyon Elementary Chino Valley Unified, Lyle S. Briggs Fundamental Chula Vista Elementary, Sunnyside Elementary Etiwanda Elementary, David W. Long Elementary Fontana Unified, Beech Avenue Elementary Fontana Unified, Shadow Hills Elementary Fontana Unified, Date Elementary Hesperia Unified, LaVerne Elementary Prep Academy Morongo Unified, Friendly Hills Elementary Ontario-Montclair, Buena Vista Arts-Integrated Redlands Unified, Kimberly Elementary Redlands Unified, Highland Grove Elementary Rialto Unified, Samuel W. Simpson Elementary San Bernardino City Unified, Ramona-Alessandro Elementary Snowline Joint Unified, Heritage Victor Elementary, Sixth Street Prep Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified, Wildwood Elementary Dehesa Elementary, The Heights Charter Escondido Union, Heritage K-8 Charter Fallbrook Union Elementary, La Paloma Elementary Fallbrook Union Elementary, Live Oak Elementary Lakeside Union Elementary, Riverview Elementary San Diego County Office of Education, Dual Language Immersion North County San Diego County Office of Education, JCS-Manzanita San Diego Unified, Jonas Salk Elementary San Diego Unified, Benchley/Weinberger Elementary San Diego Unified, Doyle Elementary Solana Beach Elementary, Carmel Creek Elementary Solana Beach Elementary, Solana Pacific Elementary Carpinteria Unified, Aliso Elementary Santa Barbara Unified, Peabody Charter Santa Barbara Unified, Adelante Charter Santa Barbara Unified, Washington Elementary Conejo Valley Unified, Wildwood Elementary Conejo Valley Unified, Banyan Elementary Santa Clara Elementary, Santa Clara Elementary Simi Valley Unified, White Oak Elementary Simi Valley Unified, Madera Elementary Simi Valley Unified, Garden Grove Elementary What they're saying "It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 336 elementary schools for their efforts to provide exemplary public education to all students. Excellent elementary schools play a critical role in the life outcomes of our young people," Superintendent Tony Thurmond said. The backstory To qualify for the Closing the Achievement Gap recognition, schools must enroll at least 40% of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and demonstrate exceptional growth in English language arts or math. For Exceptional Student Performance recognition, schools must achieve among the highest levels of ELA and math achievement and maintain a "blue" or "green" status on the Dashboard indicators. What's next The recognized schools will be celebrated at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 30, alongside other awardees such as the 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools and 2025 Green Ribbon Schools Green Achievers. The California Distinguished Schools program alternates recognition between elementary and middle/high schools annually, allowing awardees to hold the title for two years. The Source Information for this story is from a press release published by the California Department of Education on March 25, 2025.
