Ramona Community School Eligible for California Distinguished Schools Award

Ramona Community School (RCS) is one of the small percentage of schools in the state eligible to apply for a California Distinguished Schools Award this year, according to the Ramona Unified School District. It would be the first such award given to RCS and the thirteenth for the District.

The award, given by the California Department of Education, "honors some of California's most exemplary and inspiring public schools. Schools selected for the Distinguished School Award demonstrate significant gains in narrowing the achievement gap." It's based upon student performance results in last spring's California Standards Tests.  

"Clearly, our local schools have much work to accomplish – especially toward the implementation of the new Common Core State Standards – but the local community can be more than proud that our schools are well-represented in gaining state acclaim for excellence in K-12 public education," RUSD Superintendent Dr. Robert W. Graeff wrote in the Superintendent's Message in an email last week.

RCS is referred to by the district as a "unique school, consisting of both the K-6 Montessori Academy and the K-12 Mountain Valley Academy."

The school now has to describe its signature practices and possible undergo a site visit in the spring to appease state evaluators and clinch the award.

In addition to the Distinguished School Awards, RUSD schools have earned two National Blue Ribbon Awards, two Exemplary Career Technical Education Awards, four Golden Bell Awards, two Model Continuation School Awards, one Title I Academic Achievement Award, and one National School-to-Watch Award, according to the district.