Burlingame Intermediate Named California Distinguished School in 2013

If your child attends Burlingame Intermediate School, there's not a better place to be.

On Thursday, the school was listed as a California Distinguished School, four of 218 public middle and high schools to gain such status for 2013.

It was one of only six schools in San Mateo County to receive the honor.

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 Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, will present each school a 2013 Distinguished School plaque and flag.