After a thorough application process, the California Distinguished School title was awarded to Campolindo for its Academic Performance Index (API) test scores, wide range of student success, and variety of courses offered.
According to Vice Principal Sharon Bartlett, every 3 years schools are eligible to be considered for the award based on their API test scores. Bartlett said the state notifies the school of its eligibility through the California Department of Education(CDE).
Schools must prepare and submit an online application. According to Bartlett, the school also selects 2 signature practices: 2 areas in which the school feels it does an exceptional job. In the application, the school must explain the practices and provide data to prove that they have had an impact.
“We applied based on our broad support for student success,” Bartlett. This includes 8th grade visits from the counselors, freshmen orientation, freshmen class activities, counseling services, support counselors, and peer tutoring. “We listed all of those things and explained them and had to supply some data to say that it had made a difference,” she said.
According to Bartlett, the other signature practice was the broad range of courses offered at Campo. “We offer both AP courses and high level performing arts classes, as well as ROP courses and Career Technical Education (CTE) courses,” Bartlett said.
Regional Occupation Planning courses, or ROP courses, include Sports Medicine and some of the computer classes, CTE classes include Furniture Design, Woodshop, and Autoshop, and Visual and Performing Arts Classes include digital photo, video, choral, instrumental classes, and drama. In addition, Campo also offers a variety of AP classes and Special Education classes. Bartlett said the wide range of courses offered are a way to give support for student success.
The application was submitted in December of 2012 and, according to Bartlett, the paper screening was passed in February. The CDE sent representatives to visit the school March 19 to observe student work and meet with teachers, students, and parents.
After the visiting team had completed their day of assessment, it met with the Site Administration to give feedback and submit a report.
According to Principal John Walker, it was announced on April 11 that Campo had been presented the California Distinguished School Award. “We have continued to offer high quality elective courses. We have continued to support our students academically, and we have continued to perform at a very high level,” he said.
“I think we are an exceptional school. I think the Distinguished School Award acknowledges what a great job the school has been doing,” said Bartlett.
Walker hopes to work toward earning the award again. “I would want to continue having strong programs at Campolindo so that we would be eligible for this award in the future,” he said.