Braddock Drive Elementary Named California Distinguished School

Braddock Drive Elementary School, in Del Rey, will be honored as a 2012 California Distinguished School according to the State Superintendent of Public Education Tom Torkalson. Torkalson’s office issued a press release yesterday citing 387 schools statewide as winners of the prestigious award. Of those 96 were in Los Angeles County and 42 were in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The program identifies and honors those schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap, according to the press release.

To be invited to apply for Distinguished School recognition, schools must meet federal and state accountability measures based on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Academic Performance Index requirements. There is a written application -- which includes a description of two of the school's signature practices -- and a county-led review of how those practices are implemented, according to Torlakson's office.

Schools earning the Distinguished School title agree to share their signature practices with other schools and serve as mentors to other educators who want to replicate their work. An updated searchable database of these Signature Practices will be available later this spring by the California Department of Education.

Elementary and secondary schools are recognized in alternate years. This year focuses on elementary schools. Torlakson will honor each school at ceremonies on future dates, according to his office.

A complete list of schools is available online at www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/.

Braddock Drive Elementary is home to both a neighborhood kindergarten-to -fifth grade school and a Gifted/High Ability magnet program for second-through-fifth graders.

-- City News Service contributed to this report.