Five FUSD Schools Honored as 2006 California Distinguished Schools

Five schools in the Fontana Unified School District have been identified and will be honored as California Distinguished Schools.  Canyon Crest Elementary, Mango Elementary, Hemlock Elementary, Shadow Hills Elementary and Sierra Lakes Elementary were selected after submitting an application, undergoing a rigorous selection process by the California Department of Education, concluding with a site visit to validate that they are indeed exemplary schools. “These schools have demonstrated what high expectations for students and holding themselves accountable for progress can do.  By embracing rigorous standards and providing targeted support, they confirm that staying focused on student achievement is a formula for success,” said Dr. Charles Milligan, Superintendent of Schools.

Schools recognized by the state program must demonstrate high academic expectations for all students, achievement levels at and above state standards, strong leadership, competent and caring teachers focused on standards, and outstanding curriculum. 

The five Fontana schools will be honored along with other California Distinguished schools throughout the State in May at an awards ceremony and dinner at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.  Teachers, parents and principals from each site, along with District administrators and Board members will join in the recognition.

Two of these schools, Hemlock Elementary and Sierra Lakes Elementary, have also been selected to receive California’s Title I Academic Achievement Award (AAA). Only 310 schools stateside were eligible to receive this award.

The purpose of the No Child Left Behind Title I AAA Program is to recognize Title I schools that exceeded Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two or more consecutive years or significantly closed the achievement gap among significant subgroups of students.  Additionally, California’s rigorous criteria require Title I schools to have doubled their Academic Performance Index (API) growth target for two consecutive years and to have met a designated median API score in both English-language arts and mathematics.

“These schools have shown that a great deal can be accomplished by having high expectations and teaching to the rigorous standards that emphasize math and reading,” said Mrs. Cali Olsen-Binks, Deputy Superintendent.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell says, “These schools, which often face great challenges, should make everyone proud.  They prove that the notion that all kids can learn is more than just a slogan.”  This award is a prestigious recognition for each school that has worked hard to improve their students’ academic achievement in spite of their disadvantaged backgrounds," said O’Connell. 

Representatives of the winning schools will be honored at a banquet during the State Title I Conference scheduled for May 1-2, 2006 at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa Hotel in Costa Mesa.

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