Four schools named Gold Ribbon Schools

05/05/2015 - County Superintendent Steve Herrington extended his congratulations to four Sonoma County secondary schools that were named 2015 California Gold Ribbon Schools today: Casa Grande High School in Petaluma Joint Union High School District, El Molino High School in West Sonoma County Union High School District, Hillcrest Middle School in Gravenstein School District, and Santa Rosa High School in Santa Rosa City High School District. These schools were among 193 public middle schools and 180 high schools that received state recognition. The awards recognize schools that have made significant strides implementing the new standards for California schools.

The Gold Ribbon Schools program is a new state awards initiative that is temporarily taking the place of the California Distinguished Schools program, which is on hiatus while the state creates new assessment and accountability systems. In applying for the Gold Ribbon award, each school described a model program at its site that included standards-based activities, projects, strategies, and practices.

“These schools are academically successful, vibrant, and innovative centers of learning and teaching,” said State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tom Torlakson in announcing the awards. “They provide great examples of the things educators are doing right—embracing rigorous academic standards, providing excellence and creativity in teaching, and creating a positive school climate.”