Calavera Hills Middle School in the Carlsbad Unified School District was Wednesday re-designated as a model middle school in the California Department of Education’s “Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage” program.
Calavera Hills was one of 19 schools throughout the state that were previously added to the program and kept on because of what Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson called “sustained progress.”
Another 11 top middle schools were added to the program this year.
“These are 30 fantastic schools that do such a terrific job of helping students succeed with academics and succeed as they face all the other unique challenges of being in middle school,” Torlakson said.
“It’s a significant time in a student’s life, and they need special teachers, staff and administration to help them prepare for success in 21st century careers and college,” he said. “These schools do all of that and more. These outstanding schools serve as role models for middle schools up and down the great state of California.”
The schools in the program demonstrate academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs of young adolescents and social equity, according to Torlakson. The schools also host visitors who want to improve their own middle grades schools and close the achievement gap.
Calavera Hills is the only middle school in San Diego County currently in the program.
School officials will be recognized in Sacramento at the California Middle Grades Alliance annual luncheon and the California League of Schools’ annual northern area conference, both in about two weeks.
—City News Service