Top Honors for 4 Cupertino Middle Schools

If your child attends middle school in Cupertino, there's not a better place to be.

On Thursday, Joaquin Miller, John F. Kennedy, Sam H. Lawson and Warren E. Hyde were all listed as a California Distinguished School, four of 218 public middle and high schools to gain such status for 2013.

21 schools in Santa Clara County received the honor, more than any other Bay Area county.

Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction, saluted the honored schools, including 21 in Santa Clara County, for their strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievement.

“These schools have gone the extra mile to provide high-quality instruction that puts their students on the right path toward career and college,” Torlakson said.

“Given the enormous challenges schools have faced in recent years, it is inspiring to see this kind of success in so many schools. Our future depends on meeting the needs of every student no matter where they come from or where they live.”

The 2013 California Distinguished Schools Program especially honors progress made in narrowing the academic achievement gap.

Schools seeking the honor through the California Department of Education must meet a variety of criteria, including accountability measures.

“The application process consists of a written application, which includes a comprehensive description of two of the school’s signature practices, and a county-led site validation review process, which validates the implementation of those signature practices,” the state said in a news release.

The state says schools earning the Distinguished School title agree to share their “signature practices” with other schools and become a mentor to those seeking to replicate their work.

An updated searchable database of these practices will be available later this spring from the Department of Education.

Here is the current Signature Practices Web site.

Schools selected as California Distinguished Schools will be honored in May during regional award ceremonies where Torlakson will present each school a 2013 Distinguished School plaque and flag.

Other middle schools honored in Silicon Valley were:

• Raymond J. Fisher MS in Los Gatos
• Isaac Newton Graham MS in Mountain View
• Redwood MS in Saratoga

High Schools and Junior Highs in Silicon Valley honored included:

• Monta Vista High School in Cupertino
• Georgina P. Blach Junior High School in Los Altos
• Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos
• Saratoga High School in Saratoga
• Los Altos High School in Los Altos

Other Santa Clara County schools recognized were in San Jose, Milpitas, Gilroy and Fremont.

The state recognizes elementary schools in alternate years.