“I commend the students, their parents, teachers, and administrators, for their efforts in helping make these 15 schools models of excellence,” Torlakson said. “Their success is amazing, especially considering they are swimming against the tide of massive budget cuts, crowded classrooms, and school employee layoffs.”
The four newly designated schools are: Granite Ridge Intermediate in Fresno; High Desert School in Acton; Katherine L. Albiani Middle School in Elk Grove; and Olive Peirce Middle School in Ramona.
The redesignated model middle schools are: Tincher, which is located at 1701 Petaluma Ave.; Castaic Middle School in Castaic; Culver City Middle School in Culver City; Clark Intermediate in Clovis; Dartmouth Middle School in San Jose; Gaspar de Portola in San Diego; McKinleyville Middle School in McKinleyville; R.H. Dana Middle School in Hawthorne; Silverado Middle School in Roseville; Toby Johnson Middle School in Elk Grove; and Torch Middle School in City of Industry.
The STWTCS program identifies high-performing school models that demonstrate academic excellence, developmental responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents, social equity and organizational support. STWTCS model schools host visitors from California and around the world who are looking for replicable practices that will help them improve their middle-grades schools and close the achievement gap.
In order to be named a STWTCS model middle school, school administrators must conduct a self-study evaluation and complete an extensive narrative application. Each site is then reviewed by a team of middle-grades experts. In order to retain the designation, each school is re-evaluated every three years.
The 11 redesignated schools named Monday were reviewed in September 2011 and are among 32 others selected in previous cycles since 2003 as STWTCS designees. Castaic, Culver City, and Silverado middle schools have been STWTCS schools for nine years. Gaspar de Portola, McKinleyville, R.H. Dana, and Toby Johnson middle schools have been STWTCS schools for six years.
All of the schools will be formally recognized at the California Middle Grades Alliance annual luncheon on Feb. 23, 2012, and during the California League of Middle Schools conference Feb. 24—26, 2012. Both events will be in Sacramento. At that time, the schools will have an opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and network with other middle-grades educators from around the state.
Earlier this year, Tincher Preparatory School was selected as one of the Verizon Foundation’s Demonstration Schools. This grant award will be used to support the full implementation of Verizon Thinkfinity resources to support the academic program at Tincher.
For more information about the Schools to Watch Taking Center Stage model school program, visit the California Department of Education website at State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced Monday that four high-performing California schools are newly designated model middle schools in the Schools to Watch Taking Center Stage (STWTCS) program, and another 11 high-performing schools will also retain their model middle-grades schools status under the same program, including Long Beach Unified School District’s Tincher Preparatory School.
“I commend the students, their parents, teachers, and administrators, for their efforts in helping make these 15 schools models of excellence,” Torlakson said. “Their success is amazing, especially considering they are swimming against the tide of massive budget cuts, crowded classrooms, and school employee layoffs.”
The four newly designated schools are: Granite Ridge Intermediate in Fresno; High Desert School in Acton; Katherine L. Albiani Middle School in Elk Grove; and Olive Peirce Middle School in Ramona.
The redesignated model middle schools are: Tincher, which is located at 1701 Petaluma Ave.; Castaic Middle School in Castaic; Culver City Middle School in Culver City; Clark Intermediate in Clovis; Dartmouth Middle School in San Jose; Gaspar de Portola in San Diego; McKinleyville Middle School in McKinleyville; R.H. Dana Middle School in Hawthorne; Silverado Middle School in Roseville; Toby Johnson Middle School in Elk Grove; and Torch Middle School in City of Industry.
The STWTCS program identifies high-performing school models that demonstrate academic excellence, developmental responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents, social equity and organizational support. STWTCS model schools host visitors from California and around the world who are looking for replicable practices that will help them improve their middle-grades schools and close the achievement gap.
In order to be named a STWTCS model middle school, school administrators must conduct a self-study evaluation and complete an extensive narrative application. Each site is then reviewed by a team of middle-grades experts. In order to retain the designation, each school is re-evaluated every three years.
The 11 redesignated schools named Monday were reviewed in September 2011 and are among 32 others selected in previous cycles since 2003 as STWTCS designees. Castaic, Culver City, and Silverado middle schools have been STWTCS schools for nine years. Gaspar de Portola, McKinleyville, R.H. Dana, and Toby Johnson middle schools have been STWTCS schools for six years.
All of the schools will be formally recognized at the California Middle Grades Alliance annual luncheon on Feb. 23, 2012, and during the California League of Middle Schools conference Feb. 24—26, 2012. Both events will be in Sacramento. At that time, the schools will have an opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and network with other middle-grades educators from around the state.
Earlier this year, Tincher Preparatory School was selected as one of the Verizon Foundation’s Demonstration Schools. This grant award will be used to support the full implementation of Verizon Thinkfinity resources to support the academic program at Tincher.
For more information about the Schools to Watch Taking Center Stage model school program, visit the California Department of Education website at cde.ca.gov/ ci/gs/mg/stw.asp.
