California Business for Education Excellence Recognizes High Achieving Schools

After reviewing student achievement data in every public school in California, California Business for Education Excellence (CBEE) has named 5 Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) schools to the 2013 California Business for Education Excellence Honor Roll School. Since 2005 the Honor Roll increased from 261 high performing schools to an inspiring 2,099 high performing schools in 2013. The Honor Roll includes California public elementary, middle and high schools that have been recognized by California’s business community for having demonstrated consistent high student academic achievement and making significant progress toward closing achievement gaps among all their students. The mission of California Business for Education Excellence (www.cbee.org) is to raise student academic achievement and close achievement gaps in California public schools by ensuring every student reaches a minimum of grade level proficiency. This is accomplished by providing a voice to high performing public schools so that all schools can replicate their best practices. Since 1998, CBEE has worked to focus businesses around a common agenda for high performing public schools leading to increased baccalaureate degrees and economic productivity. The Honor Roll is comprised of two different awards, the “Star Schools” Award and “Scholar Schools” Award. CBEE Star Schools are those with significant populations of socio-economically disadvantaged students that have shown a significant increase in grade-level proficiency over four years and are outperforming expectations for every subgroup of students. CBEE Scholar Schools are schools that are showing significant levels of academic achievement, but do not have a significant socio-economically disadvantaged student population.  “This is an exceptional State honor! Congratulations to the staff, students and educational communities of these schools!” says Kelly Bowers, Superintendent of Livermore Schools.

The annual award is supported by numerous businesses and organizations including State Farm, Macy’s, Edison International, Wells Fargo, Southern California Auto Club, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and several private foundations. Chevron Corporation provided specific support in the creation of the STEM Honor Roll. LVJUSD schools honored are:

Star School Award:

Marylin Avenue Elementary

Scholar School Award:                           

Emma C. Smith Elementary
Sunset Elementary
William Mendenhall Middle

Granada High

A full list of the Honor Roll schools and districts as well as the full press release from CBEE can be found at: www.cbee.org.

Additional Contacts:

School Board President Kate Runyon, krunyon@comcast.net (925) 454-1139

Marylin Avenue Principal Kim Farrand, kfarrand@lvjusd.k12.ca.us (925) 606-4724

Emma C. Smith Principal Tammy Rankin, trankin@lvjusd.k12.ca.us (925) 606-4750

Sunset Principal Kuljinder Sekhon, ksekhon@lvjusd.k12.ca.us (925) 606-5230

Mendenhall Middle School Principal Susan Sambuceti, ssambuceti@lvjusd.k12.ca.us (925) 606-4731

Granada High School Principal Philomena Rambo, prambo@lvjusd.k12.ca.us (925) 606-4800