Eight Local Schools Awarded National Blue Ribbon Status

Orange County produced more National Blue Ribbon schools this year than any other county in the state, officials announced Tuesday.

Seven public and one private school in the county attained the prestigious awards granted each year to campuses that demonstrate academic success and effective teaching programs. Statewide, 31 schools received the award, among 262 nationwide.

One principal of a winning K-8 school arrived on campus Tuesday to find it thoroughly decorated by jubilant parents with hundreds of blue ribbons.

“I can’t think of any higher accolade,” said Bruce Terry, the principal of Vista Verde Elementary in Irvine. “I’m ecstatic. It’s a fantastic honor.”

The other Orange County winners were: Capistrano Unified’s Barcelona Hills Elementary, George White Elementary and Philip J. Reilly Elementary; Fullerton’s Orangethorpe Elementary; Los Alamitos’ Rossmoor Elementary; Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified’s Linda Vista Elementary; and the Hebrew Academy in Westminster.

The schools were selected by officials with the U.S. Department of Education. To qualify for the honors, schools had to previously earn the state’s Distinguished Schools Award, fill out a 36-page application and then undergo evaluation from out-of-state education officials. The awards alternate each year between high schools and elementary and middle schools; this year’s honors were designated for the lower grades.

Staff and administrators from the Blue Ribbon schools will travel to Washington in the fall to visit President Clinton and their respective congressional members and tour the U.S. Department of Education.

“It’s the highest honor you can receive as a public school,” said Principal Michelle Wrenn of Philip J. Reilly. “To have your national government say you are one of the best schools in the country, that means a lot to us.”

Reilly Elementary earned recognition for its curriculum that brings severely disabled students together with other students, Wrenn said. One of the county’s largest special-education facilities, the school was applauded for running a variety of programs that allow students to routinely visit and work with their disabled peers.

Among other achievements, the Hebrew Academy, whose students range from nursery school to the 12th grade, was noted for its academically rigorous and family-focused programs. Vista Verde received recognition for its elaborate technology resources, consisting of 150 computers and quickly putting the school online. And Linda Vista was praised for strong parent involvement--parents spent more than 15,000 hours volunteering at school programs last year.

“This is the peak of my career,” said Linda Vista Principal Pauline Schara, who was worked in education for 29 years. “The award is validation that we’re doing the right things right.”

The California counties with the second-highest number of blue-ribbon schools were Los Angeles and Santa Clara, with five campuses each.