Two Rivers honored with invite to apply for Distinguished School status

--- Published on November 06th 2013 ---
FILED UNDER:
Press Releases

Two Rivers Elementary School is one of eight Sacramento County schools that have met the eligibility criteria to apply for designation as a California Distinguished School, honoring the state’s most exemplary and inspiring public schools.

Natomas Unified was notified of Two Rivers’ eligibility to apply this week by the state Department of Education, which oversees the program to spotlight campuses with innovative approaches to closing the achievement gap.

If Two Rivers ultimately is selected as a California Distinguished School, it will join three Natomas schools that have won the distinguished award in years past – Heron, Witter Ranch and Natomas Charter.

“We’re pleased that Two Rivers has met the eligibility criteria to apply, because that distinction recognizes dedicated staff and hard work put in by students every day to become college and career ready,” Superintendent Chris Evans said. “We’re proud of what Two Rivers is achieving.”

Two Rivers was among California’s leaders in boosting Academic Performance Index (API) score by which schools are ranked and measured. The Natomas campus jumped 67 points in scores released in late August by the state.

Two Rivers’ higher API scores come at a time of change in public education, when the school is beginning to implement Common Core state standards in kindergarten and third grades, and it also is piloting use of Chromebook laptop computers in fifth and sixth grades.

To be invited to apply for Distinguished School honors, Two Rivers and other identified campuses have met a variety of eligibility criteria, including consideration of federal and state accountability measures. They now will be evaluated through written applications and site visits, with winners announced this spring.

Like this article? Read others like it: APIdistinguishedhonortwo rivers