Local distinguished schools named

Two Huntington Beach and one Fountain Valley school have been named California Distinguished Schools for 2013.

Mesa View and Fulton middle schools along with Edison High School were recognized Thursday for their strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievement, according to an announcement by State Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

To apply to be a Distinguished School, campuses must meet a variety of criteria, including accountability measures. The application process consists of a written application, which includes a comprehensive description of two of the school’s signature practices, and a county-led site validation review process, which validates the implementation of those signature practices, according to the announcement.

Schools selected as California Distinguished Schools will be honored in May during regional award ceremonies where Torlakson will present each school with a 2013 Distinguished School plaque and flag.

Elementary and secondary schools are recognized in alternate years.

— Alicia Lopez

Twitter: @AliciaLopezHB