State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Congratulates High-Performing Middle Schools Selected as 'Schools to Watch'

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that 16 high-performing California middle schools have been newly recognized in the 2018–19 Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage program. They join 33 previously chosen schools whose sustained progress will allow them to retain their “Schools to Watch” designation.

"These middle schools make a great impact on students, and I want to thank the staff, administrators, teachers, and parents at these schools for ensuring all students get the education they need to realize their potential," Thurmond said. "These schools study and support students’ needs, which helps close achievement gaps and creates a better future for these young students."

These high-performing model schools demonstrate academic excellence, social equity, and responsiveness to the needs of young adolescents. For example, Creekview Ranch School in Roseville created “Raptor Time,” embedded four days per week in the school day to offer student support and enrichment opportunities. Southridge Middle School teachers participate in instructional rounds to observe best practices, cognitive tasks, and learning targets, and then provide consistent feedback to staff and administration. In Ray Wiltsey Middle School, which has a schoolwide International Baccalaureate model, all students participate in student-led conferences where they analyze academic progress and set individual academic goals for improvement with their families.

The 16 newly designated “Schools to Watch” schools are:

• John Burroughs Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County                                              
• Creekview Ranch School K–8, Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District, Placer County                                                                                                                                      
• Enrique Camarena Jr. High School, Calexico Unified School District, Imperial County                                                    
• Norman N. Glick Middle School, Empire Union Elementary School District, Stanislaus County                                                  
• Hall Middle School, Larkspur-Corte Madera School District, Marin County                                                          
• Las Palmas Middle School, Covina-Valley Unified School District, Los Angeles County                                                
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Nicolas Junior High School, Fullerton School District, Orange County                                                       
• Wayne Ruble Middle School, Fontana Unified School District, San Bernardino County                                    
• Weaver Middle School, Weaver Union School District, Merced County                                                 
• Wendy Lopour Doty Middle School, Downey Unified School District, Los Angeles County                                                                                     
• Ray Wiltsey Middle School, Ontario-Montclair School District, San Bernardino County
• Badger Springs Middle School, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Riverside County
• Palm Middle School, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Riverside County
• Santiago Charter Middle School, Orange Unified School District, Orange County
• Southridge Middle School,      Fontana Unified School District, San Bernardino County

The 33 re-designated “Schools to Watch” schools are:

• Alder Creek Middle School, Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District, Nevada County
• Canyon Middle School, Castro Valley Unified School District, Alameda County
• Colton Middle School, Colton Joint Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Curtis Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Edna Hill Middle School, Brentwood Union School District, Contra Costa County
• Fairmont Elementary School, Sanger Unified School District, Fresno County
• Firebaugh Middle School, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District, Fresno County
• Frank J. Zamboni Middle School, Paramount Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Frank M. Wright Middle School, Imperial Unified School District, Imperial County
• Granger Junior High School, Sweetwater Union High School District, San Diego County
• John Glenn Middle School of International Studies, Desert Sands Unified School District, Riverside County
• Lake Center Middle School, Little Lake City School District, Los Angeles County
• Lindero Canyon Middle School, Las Virgenes Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Mistletoe STEM Institute, Enterprise Elementary School District, Shasta County
• Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Pioneer Middle School, Tustin Unified School District, Orange County
• Quail Lake Environmental Charter School, Sanger Unified School District, Fresno County
• Reyburn Intermediate School, Clovis Unified School District, Fresno County
• Ross Academy of Creative and Media Arts Middle School, ABC Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• San Gorgonio Middle School, Beaumont Unified School District, Riverside County
• San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, Santa Cruz County
• Sanger Academy Charter School, Sanger Unified School District, Fresno County
• Scotts Valley Middle School, Scotts Valley Unified School District, Santa Cruz County
• Serrano Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Sinaloa Middle School, Simi Valley Unified School District, Ventura County
• South Pointe Middle School, Walnut Valley Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Sunnymead Middle School, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Riverside County
• Thurston Middle School, Laguna Beach Unified School District, Orange County
• Union Middle School, Union School District, Santa Clara County
• Vanguard Preparatory School, Apple Valley Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Vista Heights Middle School, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Riverside County
• Willis Jepson Middle School, Vacaville Unified School District, Solano County
• Yorba Linda Middle School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, Orange County

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100