Where ‘Excellence is Expected’

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t
used to an environment where excellence is expected.”  Steve Jobs

Congratulations to Clark Magnet High School which, the U.S. Department of Education announced last month, has won for the second time the title of National Blue Ribbon School. Clark is a school with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and the digital arts. In the years since Clark opened in 1998, the student population has increasingly come from economically disadvantaged, immigrant families, 85% of the students speak a language other than English, and nearly 52% are eligible for free or reduced lunch benefits.  Despite these facts, the California Academic Performance Index (API) for Clark has steadily increased to a score of 909 for the 2010-11 school year, along with a 100% passing rate on both the English and math portions of the California High School Exit Exams. In the 2011-12 school year, this achievement has been exceeded with an estimated API of 920.

The selection process for the National Blue Ribbon School award focuses in large part on meeting the federal goals for Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) that are part of the No Child Left Behind legislation. Clark met and greatly exceeded the AYP requirements for both English/Language Arts and mathematics, with 100% passing rates in both portions of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).  In addition to the excellent passing rate for the CAHSEE, almost all of Clark’s students scored in the proficient or advanced achievement levels on the two tests.

A school can qualify for the National Blue Ribbon School award on the basis of high academic achievement or by showing substantial growth in academic achievement in schools with over a 40% poverty rate. Clark qualifies in both categories and is one of only three high schools in the state of California that meet both criteria. Clark is also the only high school in Los Angeles County and one of five out of 1,255 public high schools in California to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Clark Magnet High School received the National Blue Ribbon Award in 2006 for the first time. During the past six years that this award has been in effect, the school has also been honored as a California Distinguished School for the second time in 2009, as well as a Title I Achieving School which is an honor that has been received annually from 2008 through 2012.

The Crescenta Valley is lucky to have such a wonderful education system.  This is just one more reason to be thankful for living in this area.

Important CV Chamber dates: Dec. 12 – Business mixer at U.S. Bank; Jan. 9 – Business mixer at Ocean View Bar & Grill; Jan. 10 – Installation luncheon.

Please contact our office for more details on any event. How to reach us: (818) 248-4957/ crescentachamber@aol.com / www.LaCrescenta.org / 3131 Foothill Blvd., Ste. D.

  julia rabago