Gonsalves Elementary School in Cerritos was one of nine Los Angeles and Orange county based schools named as a national Blue Ribbon school Monday by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Gonsalves, an ABC Unified School District school located at 13650 Park St., last received this recognition in 2001, according to the Grizzlies' website.
The Blue Ribbon program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that perform at a high level, showed great performance improvement or closed the achievement gap affecting disadvantaged and minority students.
Gonsalves will be among the list of blue ribbon schools honored on Nov. 12-13 in Washington, D.C., where each winner will receive a plaque and flag, which may be flown at the campus as a mark of excellence.
Other Los Angeles-Orange county Area Winners:
More than 300 campuses nationwide, including 23 in California, earned the national blue ribbon school designation for 2012. The Southland recipients include:
-- Joe A. Gonsalves Elementary, ABC Unified;
-- Baldwin Stocker Elementary, Arcadia Unified;
-- Arma J. Shull Elementary in San Dimas, Bonita Unified;
-- Anderson W. Clark Magnet High, Glendale Unified;
-- Clover Avenue Elementary, Los Angeles Unified;
-- Stevenson Ranch Elementary, Newhall School District;
-- Sunny Hills High, Fullerton Joint Union High School District;
-- Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle School, Los Alamitos Unified; and
-- Fairhaven Elementary, Orange Unified.
"I congratulate these dedicated schools for receiving such a prestigious national honor," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, who nominated the schools earlier this year.
"This recognition was made possible by motivated teachers, administrators, and staff supported by involved parents who worked together to provide their students a firm foundation for a lifetime of learning," he said.
In its 30-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed the award on nearly 7,000 schools.
- City News Servicce contributed to this report.
