News-Press Editorial: School is among the best of the best

Over a five-year span between 2008 and 2013, Cerritos Elementary School, a Glendale Unified School District campus that serves a diverse neighborhood with low-income families, saw its academic performance scores soar to rather lofty heights, far exceeding the state’s target numbers. And the good work continues at the school, where officials learned this month their efforts have placed Cerritos squarely in the running for a National Excellence in Urban Education award.

Only four schools in California are on the list of more than 20 finalists, so it is a testament to the academic excellence the Cerritos teachers and nearly 400 students, under the leadership of Principal Perla Chavez-Fritz, have been quietly accomplishing, week in and week out. The school was also this year named one of the California Distinguished Schools, so it is clear Cerritos’ motto, “Achieving excellence together,” is embraced by all of its stakeholders, right down to the youngest students.

Whether or not Cerritos captures the top prize in the National Excellence in Urban Education award program this year remains to be seen, but it is a feather in all of our caps to see it recognized as a finalist. Kudos to the parents, the students and the faculty for their work, and to the GUSD administrators who have provided the necessary tools to help them shine.