Las Animas Elementary School Principal Silvia Reyes’ fingers
might get a little sore, but she’s keeping them crossed until
September.
Las Animas Elementary School Principal Silvia Reyes’ fingers might get a little sore, but she’s keeping them crossed until September.
Now that the school has mailed off its application for the prestigious No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon Schools award, it won’t get a reply until after test scores are released in September.
“I don’t think any other elementary school in Gilroy has been nominated,” Reyes said.
Las Animas is one of 34 other public and private schools in California that was nominated for the honor on the merit of their ability to achieve regardless of students’ backgrounds and make significant inroads in closing the achievement gap. The application, based on the last five years of the school’s data, will be considered and winners will be announced this fall after state standardized test scores are released.
The second highest-scoring elementary school in Gilroy behind Luigi Aprea, Las Animas added 66 points to the school’s Academic Performance Index score – a measure on a scale of 200 to 1,000 of students’ performance in math and English on the California Standards Test – last year, boosting the school’s cumulative score to 837. This is above the state target of 800. It also met the measure of federal proficiency in both math and English.
Since 1982, more than 5,800 public and private elementary and secondary institutions have been named Blue Ribbon Schools.
“A Blue Ribbon School flag waving overhead has become a trademark of excellence, a symbol of quality recognized by everyone from parents to policymakers in thousands of communities,” wrote Aba Kumi, federal program director, in a letter to Reyes.
Las Animas already bears the title of a California Distinguished School, an award it won last year. The school joined the ranks of 343 other state elementary schools to accept the honor. Though Reyes said she was rendered speechless by that distinction, she said this latest nomination is much more competitive. Only 320 schools nationwide will be considered this year.
“Whether we receive the award or not, it’s nice to get recognition and validation for the work we’re doing,” Reyes said. “What’s important though is keeping student achievement high.”
