State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson released a list of the Gold Ribbon Schools for 2016 on Wednesday, and it turns out nearly 20 percent of them are from Orange County.
In all, 722 California schools earned the prestigious designation — including 140 from our area.
“These schools shine as bright beacons for others, putting forth an exemplary effort to ensure that every student is ready for 21st century college and careers,” Torlakson said. “California teachers are developing an education model for the nation, training the students of today to be the problem-solvers, inventors, and pioneers of tomorrow.”
The California Gold Ribbon Schools Award was created to honor schools in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program, which remains on hiatus while the state implements its new assessment and accountability systems.
More than 6,000 schools were eligible for Gold Ribbons this year. Schools applied by describing their model programs and practices, specifically outlining standards-based activities, projects and strategies.
This year, the award program recognized elementary schools; in 2015, the recognition was dedicated to middle and high schools, including 45 local campuses.
Here’s the list of this year’s Orange County Gold Ribbon Schools:
Anaheim Elementary School District
Adelaide Price Elementary School
Clara Barton Elementary School
Palm Lane Elementary School
Brea Olinda Unified School District
Arovista Elementary School
Laurel Elementary School
William E. Fanning Elementary School
Buena Park School District
Arthur F. Corey Elementary School
Gordon H. Beatty Elementary School
James A. Whitaker Elementary School
Mabel L. Pendleton School
Capistrano Unified School District
Carl Hankey K-8
Vista del Mar Elementary School
Centralia Elementary School District
Los Coyotes School
San Marino Elementary School
Cypress Elementary School District
Juliet Morris Elementary School
Margaret Landell Elementary School
Fountain Valley School District
James H. Cox Elementary School
Oka Isojiro Elementary School
Robert Gisler Elementary School
Roch Courreges Elementary School
William T. Newland Elementary School
Fullerton School District
Beechwood School
Fern Drive Elementary School
Hermosa Drive Elementary School
Laguna Road School
Orangethorpe Elementary School
Pacific Drive School
Richman School
Robert C. Fisler School
Sunset Lane School
Valencia Park School
Garden Grove Unified School District
Ocia A. Peters 4-6
Ocia A. Peters K-3
Parkview Elementary School
R. F. Hazard Elementary School
Stanford Elementary School
Sunnyside Elementary School
Huntington Beach City School District
Agnes L. Smith School
Dr. Ralph E. Hawes Elementary School
Huntington Seacliff Elementary School
John H. Eader Elementary School
Joseph R. Perry Elementary School
S. A. Moffett Elementary School
Irvine Unified School District
Cypress Village Elementary School
Plaza Vista School
Woodbury Elementary School
La Habra City School District
El Cerrito School
Laguna Beach Unified School District
El Morro Elementary School
Top of the World School
Los Alamitos Unified School District
Francis Hopkinson Elementary School
J. H. McGaugh Elementary School
Jack L. Weaver Elementary School
Los Alamitos Elementary School
Richard Henry Lee Elementary School
Rossmoor Elementary School
Magnolia School District
Albert Schweitzer Elementary School
Baden-Powell Elementary School
Dr. Peter Marshall School
Esther L. Walter Elementary School
Juliette Low Elementary School
Robert M. Pyles Elementary School
Walt Disney School
Newport-Mesa Unified School District
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Davis Magnet School
Eastbluff Elementary School
Harbor View Elementary School
Kaiser Elementary School
Killybrooke School
Mariners Elementary School
Paularino School
Pomona Elementary School
Roy O. Andersen Elementary School
Sonora Elementary School
Woodland Elementary School
Orange Unified School District
California Elementary School
Canyon Rim Elementary School
Crescent Elementary School
Fairhaven Elementary School
Fletcher Elementary School
Handy Elementary School
Imperial Elementary School
La Veta Elementary School
Lampson Elementary School
McPherson Magnet
Nohl Canyon Elementary School
Palmyra Elementary School
Prospect School
Running Springs Elementary School
Serrano Elementary School
Sycamore Elementary School
Taft Elementary School
Villa Park Elementary School
West Orange Elementary School
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
Brookhaven Elementary School
Bryant Ranch School
Glenknoll Elementary School
Golden Elementary School
John O. Tynes Elementary School
Linda Vista Elementary School
Mabel Paine School
Morse Avenue Elementary School
Rio Vista Elementary School
Ruby Drive School
Travis Ranch School
Van Buren Elementary School
Saddleback Valley Unified School District
Glen Yermo Elementary School
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Santa Ana Unified School District
Franklin Elementary School
Greenville Fundamental School
Walker Elementary School
Savanna School District
Cerritos School
Hansen School
Holder School
Twila Reid School
Tustin Unified School District
Arroyo Elementary School
Barbara Benson Elementary School
Beswick Elementary School
C.C Lambert Elementary School
Guin Foss Elementary School
Helen Estock Elementary School
Hicks Canyon Elementary School
Jeanne Thorman Elementary School
Ladera Elementary School
Loma Vista Elementary School
Marjorie Veeh Elementary School
Myford Elementary School
Peters Canyon Elementary School
Red Hill Elementary School
Robert Heideman School
Tustin Memorial Academy
Tustin Ranch Elementary School
Westminster Elementary School District
C. Fred Schroeder School
Dr. Jesse Hayden School
Fay Fryberger School
Finley School
Frank N. Eastwood School
Iva Meairs Elementary School
Neomia B. Willmore Elementary School
Schmitt School
Sequoia Elementary School