Credo High Honored As 2021 California Distinguished School

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A school in the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District was among an additional 121 schools named 2021 California Distinguished Schools this week by California Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond.

The state originally honored 102 schools March 18, but after further review of the data recognized the additional schools, including Credo High in Rohnert Park and 27 other greater Bay Area schools.

The award recognizes schools that have made improvements in closing the achievement gap and student participation, which are measured by test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate.

"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," Thurmond said in a statement released Tuesday by the California Department of Education.

Credo will hold the California Distinguished School title for two years, as middle and high schools are honored every other year, alternating with elementary schools.

During the second year of holding the designation, schools are eligible to become National Association of Elementary and Secondary Education Act — ESEA — Distinguished Schools, a program that highlights schools that have successfully used their ESEA federal funds to improve the education for all students, including those who are economically disadvantaged.

These 28 greater Bay Area schools were among 121 statewide named 2021 California Distinguished Schools this week, sorted by county and district.

• Alameda County: Alameda Unified: Alameda High, Alameda Science and Technology Institute; Fremont Unified - John F. Kennedy High; New Haven Unified - James Logan High; Oakland Unified - Oakland School for the Arts, Oakland Unity High; Pleasanton Unified - Amador Valley High, Foothill High.
• Contra Costa County: Acalanes Union High- Acalanes High, Campolindo High, Miramonte High; John Swett Unified - John Swett High; San Ramon Valley Unified - California High, Dougherty Valley High, Monte Vista High; West Contra Costa Unified - Middle College High.
• Marin County: Tamalpais Union High - Tamalpais High.
• Monterey County: Carmel Unified - Carmel High.
• San Francisco County: San Francisco Unified - Lowell High.
• San Mateo County: Sequoia Union High - Carlmont High.
• Santa Clara County: Campbell Union High - Branham High; East Side Union High- Evergreen Valley High, KIPP San Jose Collegiate; Fremont Union High - Cupertino High, Monta Vista High.
• Santa Cruz County: Santa Cruz County Office of Education - Pacific Collegiate Charter.
• Solano County: Fairfield-Suisun Unified - Angelo Rodriguez High.
• Sonoma County: Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified - Credo High.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.