Germain and Superior Honored as California Distinguished Schools

The schools were honored by California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson for their "innovative education programs that encourage students to learn and help close the achievement gap," according to a statement from Torlakson's office. Statewide, 387 elementary schools were honored.

A total of 96 schools in Los Angeles County earned the distinction. Of those, 42 are in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

In Orange County, 42 schools were honored.

To be invited to apply for Distinguished School recognition, schools must meet federal and state accountability measures based on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Academic Performance Index requirements. There is a written application -- which includes a description of two of the school's signature practices -- and a county-led review of how those practices are implemented, according to Torlakson's office.

Elementary and secondary schools are recognized in alternate years. This year focuses on elementary schools. Torlakson will honor each school at ceremonies on future dates, according to his office.

A statewide list of schools is available online at www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/.

-- City News Service

2012 Distinguished Elementary Schools

California School Recognition Program (CSRP) distinguished school honorees.

Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified 186th Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Apperson Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Beethoven Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Braddock Drive Elementary and Gifted Magnet Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Burbank Boulevard Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Burton Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Canfield Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Castle Heights Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Celerity Dyad Charter Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Chandler Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Chapman Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Charles H. Kim Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Coeur d'Alene Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Commonwealth Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Dahlia Heights Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Darby Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Delevan Drive Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Denker Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Dixie Canyon Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Dyer Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Enadia Way Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Encino Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Endeavor College Preparatory Charter Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Gardner Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Germain Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Hamlin Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Justice Street Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Loyola Village Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Melrose ES Mathematics/ Science/ Technology Magnet Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Mount Washington Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Open Magnet Charter Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Riverside Drive Charter Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Solano Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified South Shores Magnet School for the Visual and Performing Arts Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Superior Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Topeka Drive Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Valor Academy Charter Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Van Ness Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Los Angeles Unified Vintage Math Science Technology Magnet

-- California School Recognition Program