DSUSD Campus Earns Blue Ribbon Honor

BERMUDA DUNES, CA — A Desert Sands Unified School District campus was named a National Blue Ribbon School on Thursday, and it was one of just two in Riverside County to earn the honor this year.

James Monroe Elementary School was among the nearly 370 campuses that earned the recognition nationally, including 36 in California. The "Blue Ribbon" status is bestowed on schools based on their overall academic achievement or success in closing achievement gaps.

The honor "affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content," according to the U.S. Department of Education, which presents the honors.

Honorees are normally recognized during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., but due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's event will be held virtually Nov. 12-13.

The Southern California honorees are:
Riverside County
-- Bermuda Dunes, James Monroe Elementary School, Desert Sands Unified School District
-- Temecula, Pauba Valley Elementary School, Temecula Valley U.S.D.
Los Angeles County
-- Los Angeles, Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High School, Alliance for College Ready Public School District
-- Long Beach, Charles Kettering Elementary School, Long Beach Unified School District
-- San Marino, K. L. Carver Elementary School, San Marino Unified School District
-- South Pasadena, Marengo Elementary School, South Pasadena Unified School District
-- Monterey Park, Monterey Vista Elementary School, Garvey Elementary School District
-- La Crescenta, Mountain Avenue Elementary School, Glendale Unified School District
-- Long Beach, Tincher Preparatory School, Long Beach Unified School District
-- Downey, Ward (E.W.) Elementary School, Downey Unified School District
-- Inglewood, Wilder's Prep. Academy Charter Middle, Inglewood Unified School District
Orange County
-- Fountain Valley, Ethan B. Allen Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
-- Fullerton, Laguna Road Elementary School, Fullerton Elementary School District
-- Costa Mesa, Mariners Christian School, Santa Ana Unified School District
-- Tustin, Red Hill Lutheran School, Pacific Southwest District * LCMS
-- Irvine, Vista Verde Elementary School, Irvine Unified School District
San Diego County
-- San Diego, Adobe Bluffs Elementary School, Poway Unified School District
-- San Diego, Monterey Ridge Elementary School, Poway Unified School District
-- San Diego, Park Village Elementary School, Poway Unified School District
-- San Diego, Silver Gate Elementary School, San Diego Unified School District
-- Solana Beach, Solana Vista Elementary School, Solana Beach School District

—City News Service contributed to this report.