State Schools Supt. Jack O’Connell has recognized Culver City Middle School as one of seven California schools re-designated as model middle schools in the Schools to Watch/Taking Center Stage program.
Culver City Middle School has been on the list for six years. It was among the first schools in the national program to be re-designated a second time.
The seven middle grades schools named today are among 24 others selected in previous cycles since 2003.
They will be formally recognized next weekend at the California League of Middle Schools annual conference in San Diego.
“These seven schools continue to make progress on their trajectory toward success as high-performing middle schools,” Mr. O’Connell said.
“They meet the distinctive needs of their students, they help build a strong record of student achievement, and they are making significant progress toward narrowing the achievement gap.
“Credit goes to the students, their teachers, administrators, and parents who all work hard together making these schools examples of educational excellence.”
The Schools-to-Watch program is designed to identify high-performing school models that demonstrate academic excellence, developmental responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents, social equity, and organizational support.
The progressive program models host visitors from California and around the world who are looking for replicable practices that will help them improve their middle schools and close the achievement gap.
In order to be named a re-designee, schools must have conducted an extensive self-study and completed a narrative application.
Each site was reviewed by a team of middle grades experts in January.
The process gauged each applicant's understanding and implementation of the California Dept.of Education’s 12 recommendations for middle grades excellence that form the basis of Taking Center Stage-Act II: Ensuring Success and Closing the Achievement Gap for All of California's Middle Grades Students.
Built by, and for, middle grades educators, Act II is an innovative web-based resource. Selected schools must also be a high-performing middle school as defined by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. California is one of 17 states working with the National Forum to designate and promote model middle schools throughout the country.
Initially, the seven re-designated schools were recognized for their success in four areas:
(1) implementing best practices focused on academic achievement;
(2) responding to the developmental needs of young adolescents;
(3) offering a fair and equitable education for all students; and
(4) instituting organizational processes and procedures that foster and sustain academic growth.
For more information http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/mg/stw.asp.
