Local schools make Honor Roll
Student achievement, reduced academic gap noted
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

A statewide business and education coalition named several local schools to its 2007 Honor Roll earlier this month.

The California Business for Education Excellence Foundation and Just for the KidsCalifornia recognized 569 public schools across the state for high student achievement and reducing the academic gap for all students.

The Honor Roll, based on data from the California Standards Tests and the California High School Exit Exam, consists of two awards.

The Star award, given this year to 126 schools, recognizes schools that have a sizable population of economically disadvantaged students and have shown an increase in academic proficiency and a reduction in the achievement gap for all of its students for more than four years.

The Scholar award recognizes schools that do not have a significant population of economically disadvantaged students but has demonstrated high academic student achievement.

In the Las Virgenes Unified School District, the honorees are: Bay Laurel Elementary, Lupin Hill Elementary, Yerba Buena Elementary, Alice C. Stelle Middle and Lindero Canyon Middle schools; for a second year, Round Meadow Elementary, Willow Elementary School, Agoura High School; and, for a third year, White Oak Elementary and Calabasas High schools

Schools recognized in the Oak Park Unified School District are Oak Hills Elementary, and Oak Park High School for a third year.

The California Business for Education Excellence Foundation is a group of business and education leaders encouraging schools to meet state academic standards and close the achievement gaps among students.

Just for the Kids-California is a nonprofit organization that provides online research and improvement strategies free of charge to educators, parents and communities.