ROWLAND UNIFIED ANNOUNCES ROWLAND HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES STATE’S HIGHEST HONOR AS 2019 CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – FEBRUARY 28, 2019 – Rowland Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Julie Mitchell announced that Rowland High School was named by the California Department of Education as a 2019 California Distinguished School, the state’s highest designation for excellence in education. The award recognizes California schools that have outstanding educational programs that meet student needs, resulting in student achievement and success.
“This important achievement recognizes the tremendous effort that our Rowland High School educators and staff have made in increasing access to honors programs for students,” said Mitchell. “The Board of Education and I congratulate them for their dedication in providing rigorous educational experiences for students that have raised school wide achievement.”
Rowland High School was recognized for its plan, implementation and results of its system-wide approach to increase access to honors level courses for all students and the expansion of rigorous course offerings. The percentage of students enrolled in the honors program school wide has increased from 28.7% in 2008 to 48.3% in 2018. The school went from offering 35 types and 66 sections of honors, AP and IB courses in 2008 to 45 types and 93 sections in 2018. The school also expanded its AVID college preparation courses from one to five sections for students. Teachers focused on skill development with their students, and courses were developed such as summer school writing class, AVID Skills for Success and summer enrichment courses for students to be prepared to gain access to honors classes the following year.
“I am extremely proud of the staff, students, and parents of Rowland High School as this award is reflective of all stakeholders in our system,” said Rowland High School Principal Mitchell Brunyer. “The efforts to promote, provide access, and support our honors curriculum has been an ongoing process involving the entire school community. At this point almost half of the entire student body is enrolled in an honors-level course.”
Rowland High School will be honored at the California School Recognition Ceremony on April 5 at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE.
Rowland High School is located at 2000 S. Otterbein Ave. in Rowland Heights. www.rowlandhs.org Principal: Mitchell Brunyer can be reached at (626)965-3448.
The California Distinguished Schools Program returned last year and replaces the California Gold Ribbon Schools Program. Rowland High School is one of 162 midle and high schools being honored as a 2019 California Distinguished School. Schools that applied were eligible based on their performance and progress on the state indicators as described on the California School Dashboard. Indicators include test scores, suspension rates, and graduation rates. The California Distinguished School Program recognizes elementary and middle and high schools in alternate years and allows eligible schools to apply for the California DS Award once every two years. Schools recognized as a California DS Awardee hold the DS Title for two years.
The Rowland Unified School District has garnered numerous state and national awards and is proud of its 19 schools with 14,000 students in the communities of Rowland Heights, Walnut, La Puente, City of Industry, and West Covina. More than 5,000 adults (18+) are also served by the Rowland Adult and Community Education School. For more information about Rowland Unified, the community can call (626) 965-2541 or download the free Rowland USD Mobile App for iOS and Android phones/devices that has news, school calendars, a safety Tip Line, and helpful parent and District resources. The public can also follow Rowland schools on Facebook.com/RowlandUSD Twitter @RowlandSchools or visit www.RowlandSchools.org.