Five GGUSD Schools Recognized as America’s Best Urban Schools

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Five elementary schools in the Garden Grove Unified School District were recognized with America’s Best Urban Schools awards from the National Center for Urban School Transformation. Schools to earn the prestigious recognition as the highest performing urban schools include Evans, Hazard, Paine, Parkview, and Warren elementary schools.

“We are proud that GGUSD is known for our collective commitment to equity and access -- values that our educators put into practice on a daily basis,” said Board of Education Trustee Bob Harden. These schools have done an outstanding job of ensuring that all students receive the support they need to be successful.”

Schools will be recognized with gold, silver, and bronze awards at a symposium in October.

NCUST selects America’s Best Urban Schools after a rigorous application process and site visits, including teacher observations, interviews with administrators, and focus groups among all stakeholders. Criteria includes high rates of academic proficiency across racial and ethnic groups, evidence of high achievement for students with disabilities, evidence of high achievement for English learners, high attendance rates, and low rates of out-of-school suspensions.

Among the indicators for success are high expectations for student learning, success identifying and supporting students who need intervention, rich opportunities in art and extra-curricular activities, and caring and supportive relationships, among many others.

Established in 2005 , NCUST strives to help urban school districts and their partners transform urban schools into places where all students achieve academic proficiency, evidence a love of learning, and graduate well prepared to succeed in post-secondary education, the workplace, and their communities.