January 31, 2003
O'Connell Announces California's 2003 Model Middle Schools
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the names of four middle schools designated in 2003 as California's Schools to Watch — Taking Center Stage. These schools represent examples of high-performing middle schools that are academically excellent, developmentally responsive to the needs of young adolescents, socially equitable, and organized in a way to sustain dynamic improvement and reform.
"These four schools represent small, large, urban, and suburban schools in a variety of socioeconomic communities and student populations," said O'Connell. "We recognize their challenges and applaud their accomplishments. Clearly, we can learn from them what it takes to become, sustain, and grow as a high-performing middle school."
This year's awardees are:
- Castaic Middle School, Castaic Union School District, Castaic, Los Angeles County;
- Culver City Middle School, Culver City Unified School District, Culver City, Los Angeles County;
- Rogers (Samuel Curtis) Middle School, Moreland Elementary School District, San Jose, Santa Clara County; and
- Silverado Middle School, Dry Creek Elementary School District, Roseville, Placer County.
Formal recognition will be given to the four schools March 6-9 at the California League of Middle Schools (CLMS) Conference in San Diego.
The Schools to Watch — Taking Center Stage program is being piloted in California this year and is modeled and affiliated with the National Schools to Watch Program sponsored by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. California was one of three states selected by the National Forum to participate in a statewide program.
Schools submitted an application and self-assessment last fall, and were visited by a Schools to Watch review team. Designated schools will serve as models for other schools to visit, learn from, and emulate. Virtual tours of the four schools will be developed and posted online by this summer.
The CLMS partnered with the California Department of Education's (CDE) Middle Grades Office, the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), and representatives from San Francisco State University and California State University, San Marcos, to select these outstanding schools.
For more information, please contact Rozlynn Worrall at 916-322-1892 or Jim Miller at 916-445-6763 in the CDE's Middle Grades Office.
