Ladera Ranch Middle School Lauded As CA Distinguished School

LADERA RANCH, CA — Ladera Ranch Middle School is one of just 11 Orange County schools and 102 middle and high schools in California to receive the honor this year. Ladera Ranch Middle School first was named a California Distinguished School award in 2008. It was the only Capistrano Unified School District school awarded this honor for 2021, according to the state.

Principal George Duarte spoke on what it means to be named one of the 11 Orange County Distinguished Schools.

“At Ladera Ranch Middle School, we believe we were selected because of our Exceptional
Student Performance,” Principal George Duarte said. “Our entire staff takes ownership of ALL
the students. We believe that when we come together as a staff and assume the responsibility
(and the privilege) of looking after all the children, academic achievement increases, suspensions
and absenteeism rates decline, and students feel connected and supported on campus. At LRMS,
this is a team effort that continues to involve all staff members. We are very proud to be
recognized.”

California Distinguished Schools are recognized for excellent work in either closing the
achievement gap or achieving exceptional student performance, State Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tony Thurmond stated.

Schools are identified by the California Department of Education each year based on
performance and their progress on state indicators including test scores, suspension rates,
conditions and climate. The indicators are specified on the California School Dashboard, an
accountability and continuous improvement system.

The awards are sponsored by the California Department of Education and presented by California Casualty.

In Orange County, the following schools were named as Distinguished Schools for 2021:

• Anaheim Union High, John F. Kennedy High
• Anaheim Union High, Oxford Academy
• Capistrano Unified, Aliso Niguel High
• Capistrano Unified, Ladera Ranch Middle
• Fullerton Elementary, D. Russell Parks Junior High
• Fullerton Joint Union High, Troy High
• Garden Grove Unified, Hilton D. Bell Intermediate
• Garden Grove Unified, James Irvine Intermediate
• Garden Grove Unified, La Quinta High
• Garden Grove Unified, Sarah McGarvin Intermediate
• Irvine Unified, Lakeside Middle
• Irvine Unified, Northwood High
• Irvine Unified, University High
• Los Alamitos Unified, Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle
• Newport-Mesa Unified, Early College High
• Ocean View, Vista View Middle
• Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, Col. J. K. Tuffree Middle
• Placentia-Yorba Linda Unifie, Kraemer Middle
• Santa Ana Unified, Middle College High
• Tustin Unified, Arnold O. Beckman High
• Westminster, Helen Stacey Middle

“These schools are great examples of California’s commitment to provide outstanding public
education for all students, and their data-driven efforts have helped ensure that their students
leave with the tools and skills they need to be successful after graduation,” Thurmond stated in a
press release. “Our thanks go to the entire communities surrounding these schools, including the
teachers, administrators, and classified employees as well as the students and their families who,
through teamwork, all accomplished this impressive achievement together.”

Distinguished Schools represent examples of not just excellent teaching, learning, and
collaboration, but also highly successful, data-driven school efforts ranging from professional
development to positive behavior intervention, the state’s press release stated.