Four High Desert campuses receive California Distinguished Schools honor

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
·2 min read

Four High Desert-based schools were among 10 campus sites in San Bernardino County named California Distinguished Schools for 2024.

The four schools include:

  • Melva Davis Academy of Excellence, Adelanto Elementary School District

  • University Preparatory School, Victor Valley Union High School District

  • Hesperia High School, Hesperia Unified School District

  • Oak Hills High School, Hesperia Unified School District

In California, 293 middle and high schools were named, according to the California Department of Education.

“It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 293 secondary schools for their efforts to provide exemplary public education to all students,” said California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who announced the winners. “

Thurmond said excellent middle and high schools play a critical role in the life outcomes of our young people.

Melva Davis Academy of Excellence in the Adelanto Elementary School District was one of four High Desert-based schools in San Bernardino County that were recognized as California Distinguished Schools for 2024.
Melva Davis Academy of Excellence in the Adelanto Elementary School District was one of four High Desert-based schools in San Bernardino County that were recognized as California Distinguished Schools for 2024.

“This year’s California Distinguished Schools celebration provides us with an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our secondary educators and school staff who help our young adults discover passions and access college- and career-ready experiences that will propel them through life,” he said.

The program recognizes two categories of exceptional schools: those closing the achievement gap and those demonstrating exceptional student performance.

Other San Bernardino County-based school winners included:

  • Alta Loma Junior High School, Alta Loma School District

  • Alta Loma High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

  • Etiwanda High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

  • Woodcrest Junior High School, Chino Valley Unified School District

  • Grand Terrace High School at Ray Abril Jr. Educational Complex, Colton Joint Unified School District

  • Day Creek Intermediate School, Etiwanda School District

Since its inception in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools Award remains one of the state’s most important ways to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees for their innovation, talent, and success in supporting students, state officials stated.

Methodology

To select California Distinguished Schools, the California Department of Education stated that it uses multiple measures to identify eligible schools based on their performance on the state indicators as specified on the California School Dashboard.

Specifically, schools were selected by analyzing data reported through the 2023 Dashboard, with a focus on demonstrating excellence and growth in academic achievement and ensuring a positive school climate.

Schools are recognized for exceptional student performance based on achieving exemplary performance in English Language Arts and math, reducing suspensions, and demonstrating high graduation rates for high schools.

Schools recognized for closing the achievement gap enroll at least 40% of their students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and, in addition to demonstrating exemplary overall performance in English language arts and math, achieve accelerated academic growth for one or more historically underserved student groups.

To see the full list of California Distinguished Schools, visit cde.ca.gov.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz  

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Four High Desert campuses receive California Distinguished Schools honor