Grade schools earn state honors

Two elementary schools in Newport-Mesa Unified School District were named winners of the state’s 2009-10 Title I Academic Achievement Award on Thursday. Killybrooke Elementary and Victoria Elementary, both K-6 campuses in Costa Mesa, were among 238 schools in California to earn the distinction.

The award recognizes academic gains and efforts to reduce the achievement gap by schools composed largely of low-income and minority students, which get federal Title I dollars to boost programs and performance.

“These award recipients prove that with hard work and high expectations, students can overcome challenges and achieve academic success,” State Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said in a news release. “By working together, administrators, teachers, staff, students and parents have raised student achievement and narrowed the achievement gap. I congratulate these schools and everyone who worked hard to make them deserving of this significant award.”

— Imran Vittachi