School receives recognition for academic achievement and exemplary practices

The California Distinguished School Program is run by the State Department of Education. According to the department, the award “honors some of California’s most exemplary and inspiring public schools.” There are hundreds of schools statewide that will be recognized for their achievements. 

This is not the first time that the school has been recognized. According to principal Paul Robinson, the school won the award in the 2009-10 school year as well. Robinson stated that the award was given for the 2012-13 school year because the school showed commendable practices. 

“The schools that get recognition for this [award] have to meet state goals, and we have. We have performed very, very well,” Robinson said. 

Robinson said all aspects or subgroups of the school have to show improvement, whether the subgroups are split up into ethnicity or economic need. Since the school improved in all the required aspects, it was able to apply for the award. 

Robinson said one of the reasons the school was recognized was the improvement of the P.E. programs, especially the addition of CrossFit programs.

Additionally, Robinson said that this is the first time that both high schools in the Los Gatos-Saratoga School district will be recognized for the award and will be awarded together at the ceremony.  

Though the school has been recognized, there will be no financial aid awarded to the school. Robinson said that because the state is not strong financially, monetary rewards are not common. 

In addition to the award from the state department of education, US News and World Report ranked the school as No. 22 in the state and No. 147 in the nation. 

To apply to be ranked, Robinson said the school sends in information on the number of students graduated, the number of students going to four-year schools and other criteria. The magazine then inputs all of the data into a formula and comes out with the school’s college-readiness level. This data is then compared with other schools in the nation and organized into lists.

Robinson said the school does not actively try to increase its ranking.

“We just keep doing the things that we are doing, and our students rise to the occasion. It’s nice to get recognition for this,” Robinson said.