De Portola Middle School in Tierrasanta has once again been re-designated a model middle school by the California Department of Education's Schools to Watch™−Taking Center Stage (STW™−TCS) program. This year marks De Portola's third re-designation, representing nine years of continuous improvement.
The school's academic excellence, responsiveness to students needs were lauded by Tom Torlakson, state Superintendent of Schools, in an announcement from Sacramento. Across California, 15 schools were returned to the "watch" list, while seven schools were added to the honor roll. There are more than 1,300 middle schools in California and 95 in San Diego County. De Portola is being joined by Olive Peirce Middle School in Ramona as the only honored schools in San Diego County.
"I commend the students, their parents, teachers, and administrators, for their efforts in helping make these 15 schools models of excellence," Torlakson said. "Their success is amazing, especially considering they are swimming against the tide of massive budget cuts, crowded classrooms, and school employee layoffs."
STW™—TCS middle grades schools are high-performing model schools that demonstrate academic excellence, developmental responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents, social equity, and organizational support. These model schools host visitors from California and around the world who are looking for replicable practices that will help them improve their middle grades schools and close the achievement gap. In order to retain the designation, each school is re-evaluated every three years.
All of the schools will be formally recognized in
Sacramento at the California Middle Grades Alliance annual luncheon Feb. 26,
2015.
For more information about the Schools to Watch™−Taking Center Stage model school program, visit the California Department of Education Website at California Schools to Watch--Taking Center Stage - Middle Grades.
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