Signal Hill and Tucker elementary schools have won the National Center for Urban School Transformation’s Excellence in Urban Education Award. Only 11 schools nationwide earned the honor this year and the Long Beach Unified School District is the only district in the nation with two winners.
To compete for the award, urban school applicants must meet 11 criteria including proficiency rates on state assessments that exceed state averages, high achievement for all demographic groups served, high attendance rates, low suspension and expulsion rates for all demographic groups served, high graduation rates and the attainment of federal Adequate Yearly Progress goals. The majority of students served at the schools must also meet low-income criteria and the schools must have non-selective admissions policies.
In every winning school, students, teachers, support staff and parents felt valued, supported and appreciated, according to NCUST’s Web site, www.ncust.org.
Signal Hill Elementary School last year was one of six schools nationwide to receive the National School Change Award for significant improvement in student achievement.
For Tucker Elementary, this year’s award is especially poignant. Next fall, Tucker will close as part of a cost-saving move necessitated by declining enrollment and the state’s budget crisis, which is requiring school districts throughout California to find ways to save limited resources. Tucker will merge with MacArthur Elementary School, allowing the Long Beach Unified School District to use Tucker as offices for existing school programs that are currently in leased facilities.
“Tucker will close on a high note, thanks to a tremendous amount of work by our entire school community,” said the school’s principal, Christi Granado. “What a great honor to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished here. The timing is a little bittersweet, but we’re encouraged that our talented students and teachers will remain together as they move to MacArthur.”
At Signal Hill, the award represents another in a series of prestigious honors.
“This award is a wonderful honor for an absolutely fantastic school community that always puts children first,” said Principal Karen Williams. “It’s also a testament to our teachers and support staff, who continually focus on growth for both themselves and our students.”
This year’s eleven NCUST top winners receive a check for $1,000 and a large banner for their school, as well as a commemorative photo album, a profile published on the NCUST Web site and complimentary travel and registration for two people to the symposium in San Diego in May.
