Release: #04-83
September 17, 2004

Contact: Tina Jung
E-mail: communications@cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today congratulated 33 public and six private schools in California selected as 2004 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) — Blue Ribbon Schools by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. For the list of schools, please visit 2004 Award Winning Schools - Blue Ribbon Schools. The list of private schools is attached.

"The educators and students in these schools, as well as the children's parents, deserve a lot of praise for working very hard to receive this national recognition," said O'Connell. "This shows that our efforts to increase rigor in California schools is working, so students can receive a world-class education that will carry them through to college or careers."

NCLB — Blue Ribbon Schools is a national recognition program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The 21-year old program encourages states to nominate public kindergarten through grade twelve schools that are either academically superior or demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. O'Connell nominated the schools last December for the federal program. The Council on American Private Education nominates private schools.

Public school nominees in the top 10 percent of the state are selected based on growth over a three-year period, while schools with a 40 percent economically disadvantaged student body are selected in order of achievement upon having met targets over a three-year period. The schools go through a rigorous application process. The weight of the application rests overwhelmingly on test scores, on growth, and achievement in reading and math over three years, including those for significant subgroups. All schools selected as winners met the 2004 Adequate Yearly Progress criteria. Additionally, all schools first are either California Distinguished Schools or meet the qualifications required to apply for that state awards program.

Today's selection is the second cycle of the newly redesigned program. Changes reflect new priorities under the federal NCLB legislation. Schools must now fit one of the two categories:

1. Mandatory Category: Have a student body comprised of a least 40 percent disadvantaged students and show dramatic improvement with students performing at the 55th percentile in reading and math; or
2. Optional Category: Be among the top 10 percent of the schools in the state in terms of student achievement.

Nationwide, 206 public and private elementary schools in 43 states were chosen as Blue Ribbon Schools. These figures may rise, as some states are in the process of supplying additional achievement data that may result in more awards. All the winners will be honored November 4 - 5, 2004, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Attached is a list of the Blue Ribbon schools in California. For more information on the program, please visit Awards - No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html] (Outside Source).

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Attachment

List of NCLB — Blue Ribbon Private Schools in California

Valley Christian High School, San Jose
Our Savior's Lutheran School, San Clemente
Valley Christian Elementary School, Dublin
St. Anne School, Laguna Niguel
Spring Hill - The Advanced Elementary School of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Laurel Hall School, North Hollywood