3 Northridge-Area Schools Named California Distinguished Schools

NORTHRIDGE-CHATSWORTH, CA — Three Northridge-area schools were awarded the prestigious California Distinguished School designation, which is awarded each year to a small percentage of schools around the state that demonstrate the highest achievements in academics and closing the achievement gap.

Granada Hills Charter High School, Grover Cleveland Charter High School, and James Jordan Middle School each received a 2021 California Distinguished School Award. The schools were among 222 in California - just two percent of public middle and high schools in the state - to receive this distinction. 29 schools in the LA Unified School District, and 73 schools in LA County were given the award.

102 schools were notified of the award in March, and an additional 121 were given the award this week. The California State Board of Education awards the Distinguished School grants the award to schools with exceptional achievements in student academic performance and in closing the socioeconomic achievement gap.

“I am delighted to see the state recognize the progress being made at so many of our schools where extraordinary things are happening,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “We are grateful for the hard work of the administrators, educators and staff for helping our students get a great education.”

Schools do not typically apply for the award - instead, they are selected based on a number of criteria. Middle schools must include high rates of socioeconomic diversity, demonstrate high growth in English or math for disadvantaged students, low rates of suspension and chronic absenteeism, and high participation in English language arts and math.

High schools must achieve all of the criteria of middle schools, and score highly in college, career, and graduation indicators. See here for a more detailed list of considerations.

Normally, individual school data can be found online, but the Board of Education says that state law prohibits the reporting of state and local indicators on the 2020 Dashboard due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Although the past year has been a difficult one, our teachers and staff have maintained a focus on providing our students the highest-quality education, one that challenges and inspires them," Brian Bauer, Granada Hills Charter's executive director, said in a statement. "We are fortunate to have educators who are creative and innovative, and a support structure to foster them as we all work towards one purpose: serving our students and preparing them for success in their lives."

Granada Hills Charter High School is part of Granada Hills Charter, an independent public school system in Granada Hills serving 5400 students in TK-12. According to Granada Hills Charter, its students speak more than 40 languages at home and represent 60 nationalities.

Grover Cleveland Charter High School in Reseda hosts 3,050 students, 67.3% of whom are socioeconomically disadvantaged, and 11.3% of whom are English language learners, according to the California School Dashboard. It hosts the Cleveland Humanities Magnet, a specialized magnet school.

LAUSD District 3 Board Member Scott Schmerelson singled out Cleveland for congratulations in a statement. “Congratulations to ALL the Los Angeles Unified SChools who, even in the midst of a virulent pandemic, have distinguished themselves for excellent teaching and learning,” Schmerelson said. “I would particularly like to extend kudos to the students, families, and staff of Grover Cleveland Charter High School, in Board District 3, for their efforts. Bravo!”

James Jordan Middle School is a small charter middle school in Winnetka educating 350 students in grades 6-8. “James Jordan Middle School provides the same challenging standards-based curriculum to a diverse student body with extensive support to ensure the success of all students, including underserved groups,” the school said on its website. “We are nurturing, productive, successful, but intense environment for both students and staff.”

Here is a full list of 2021 Distinguished Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District:

1. Alliance Collins Family College-Ready High
2. Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex
3. Alliance Leichtman-Levin Family Foundation Environmental Science High
4. Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science
5. Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High
6. Alliance Tennenbaum Family Technology High
7. Downtown Business High
8. Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy
9. Ednovate- USC Hybrid High College Prep
10. Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High
11. Granada Hills Charter High
12. Grover Cleveland Charter High
13. High Tech LA
14. James Jordan Middle
15. John Marshall Senior High
16. KIPP Los Angeles College Preparatory
17. KIPP Sol Academy
18. Larchmont Charter
19. Libertas College Preparatory Charter
20. Linda Esperanza Marquez High Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine
21. Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
22. Math and Science College Preparatory
23. Math, Science & Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High
24. Orthopaedic Hospital
25. PUC Lakeview Charter High
26. Renaissance Arts Academy
27. Social Justice Leadership Academy at Esteban E. Torres High No. 5
28. STEM Academy at Bernstein High
29. Taft Charter High