Parkway Middle, Grossmont High Named California Distinguished Schools

Parkway Middle School and Grossmont High School already have stellar repuations for producing great students. But now they can add one more distinction: California Distinguished School.

The two La Mesa area institutions have been named as two of 218 public middle and high schools to gain status in the state for 2013.

"I am honored to be the Principal at Parkway Middle and work with such dedicated teachers and support staff members.  Their hard work is the reason Parkway has been designated as a California Distinguished School," said principal Mary Beason.  "At Parkway, every staff members puts children first in all they do.  We work together as a team and believe in Success for Every Student!"

La Mesa schools Lemon Avenue Elementary and Murray Manor Elementary were named to the California Distinguished Schools list last year.

Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction, on Thursday saluted the honored schools, including 19 in San Diego County, for their strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievement.

“These schools have gone the extra mile to provide high-quality instruction that puts their students on the right path toward career and college,” Torlakson said.

“Given the enormous challenges schools have faced in recent years, it is inspiring to see this kind of success in so many schools. Our future depends on meeting the needs of every student no matter where they come from or where they live.”

The 2013 California Distinguished Schools Program especially honors progress made in narrowing the academic achievement gap.

Schools seeking the honor through the California Department of Education must meet a variety of criteria, including accountability measures.

“The application process consists of a written application, which includes a comprehensive description of two of the school’s signature practices, and a county-led site validation review process, which validates the implementation of those signature practices,” the state said in a news release.

The state says schools earning the Distinguished School title agree to share their “signature practices” with other schools and become a mentor to those seeking to replicate their work.

An updated searchable database of these practices will be available later this spring from the Department of Education.

Here is the current Signature Practices Web site.

Schools selected as California Distinguished Schools will be honored in May during regional award ceremonies where Torlakson will present each school a 2013 Distinguished School plaque and flag.

Other middle schools honored in San Diego County were:

• EJE Middle Academy in El Cajon
• Aviara Oaks in Carlsbad
• Parkway Middle in La Mesa
• Carmel Valley in San Diego
• Earl Warren in Solana Beach
• Bonita Vista and Eastlake in Chula Vista

The honored high schools were:

• Classical Academy in Escondido
• Granite Hills and Grossmont in El Cajon
• Del Norte in 4S Ranch
• Health Sciences High and the Kearny International Business School in San Diego
• Eastlake in Chula Vista
• Valley Center High School

Other schools recognized were Mount Everest Academy in San Diego and, in Vista, Guajome Park Academy Charter and the School for Integrated Academics and Technology.

The state recognizes elementary schools in alternate years.

In February 2012, Olive Peirce Middle School also was recognized as a School to Watch. Ramona High School was named a California Distinguished School in 2011 and Ramona’s Mt. Woodson Elementary won that title in 2010.

—City News Service contributed to this report.