Leal Elementary in Cerritos Receives Blue Ribbon Award Nomination

Leal Elementary in Cerritos is one of 14 public schools in Los Angeles and Orange counties among 35 across the state nominated for the 2013 National Blue Ribbon Honor, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced Thursday.

Leal, located at 12920 Droxford St., was a previously recognized National Blue Ribbon school and also earned the honor of being a 2010 California Distinguished School.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors campuses where students perform at a high level on state assessments or schools with students from disadvantaged backgrounds that showed substantial improvement on the tests over the past five years.

The other schools nominated in Los Angeles County were: Columbia, Chapman, Anderson, La Canada, and Opal Robinson elementary schools; Environmental Charter High; and Community Charter Middle School.

In Orange County, nominations went to Sycamore, Plavan, Robert C. Fisler and Stonegate elementary schools; A.G. Currie Middle School; and Oxford Academy.

"I applaud the principals, teachers, staff and families whose commitment to learning has led to success in the classroom," Torlakson said. "Schools nominated for this significant recognition are performing at very high levels or are making impressive strides in student progress under challenging circumstances."

Up to 35 qualified schools can be nominated each year, according to the state Department of Education. The winners are usually announced in September.

The ABC Unified Shool District is no stranger to Blue Ribbon recognition. Gonsalves Elementary School in Cerritos was one of nine Los Angeles and Orange county based schools named as a national 2012 Blue Ribbon school this past October.

- City News Service contributed to this report.