Local schools honored for education of students from low-income families

Twenty schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District have won state awards for their education of low-income students. The Title I Academic Achievement Award is named for the federal program that provides extra funding to assist with teaching students in high-poverty areas.

The rules for earning top state honors have become more rigorous in recent years. A school “must demonstrate that all students are making significant progress toward proficiency on California's academic content standards,” according to the state Department of Education.

In particular, students from low-income families must double the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years on the state’s standardized tests.

Most of the winners are elementary schools. Winners with older students include: Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy, Gertz-Ressler Academy High School, Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy, Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies and Renaissance Arts Academy.

Other school districts with recognized schools are: Alhambra Unified, Bonita Unified, Burbank Unified, Charter Oak Unified, Compton Unified, Covina-Valley Unified, Downey Unified, Duarte Unified, East Whittier City Elementary, Garvey Elementary, Glendale Unified, Hacienda La Puente Unified, Hawthorne, Inglewood Unified, Lawndale Elementary, Little Lake City Elementary, Long Beach Unified, Newhall, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified, Paramount Unified, Rowland Unified, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, Temple City Unified, West Covina Unified.

Recipients of the awards are invited to a reception and banquet at the Disneyland Hotel on May 20.

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-- Howard Blume