More Schools Up For National, State Prizes

Hill Classical Middle School is in the running for the 2006 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School Award, the highest national honor a school can earn. The award is presented by the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of strong academic achievement. "We're not totally surprised because we've been watching our scores go up," said principal Peter Davis. "But we are very happy." Only 35 schools in California were nominated for the award. Nominated schools had to meet the national Adequate Yearly Progress criteria and the state's 2004 and 2005 schoolwide and subgroup Academic Performance Index growth targets. The Blue Ribbon Award winners will be announced in September. LBUSD also has 17 elementary and K-8 schools that are eligible to apply for the 2006 California Distinguished School Award. District schools eligible to apply are Buffum, Carver, Edison, Fremont, Gant, Gompers, Holmes, Hudson, International, Lee, Madison, Muir, Newcomb, Prisk, Robinson, Tincher and Twain.