PHOTOS COURTESY SOLANO AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Nestled in Solano Canyon is a small, high-performing public school that shines as one of the gems of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
With a history dating back to 1903, Solano Avenue Elementary School has won numerous awards, and this week it received national recognition as a 2020 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished School. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond congratulated Solano Avenue and school in the Victor Elementary School District as two of up to 100 schools throughout the country to receive the recognition.
“Congratulations to principals Collin Rowe and Jorge Parra, as well as all of the educators, staff, administrators, parents and students at these schools,” says Thurmond. “Not only were these two schools already named 2020 California Distinguished Schools, they’re also being recognized for their excellent work closing achievement gaps between student groups and ensuring academic growth for students who need extra assistance.”
Specifically, Solano Avenue performed well in Category 2— closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years.
“Being recognized as a National ESEA Distinguished School is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our entire Solano community to ensure that we remain focused on student learning,” says Parra. “We thank our parents for their continued trust and support along with the leadership at our local district and our Community of Schools. This achievement is a result of the collaboration between our entire Solano Community to ensure the best education possible to our Solano Scholars.”
And while adjusting to distance learning has not been an easy feat, Parra says the staff and faculty have worked to keep standards high. “We still have a responsibility to our students and parents to provide them a school where they are valued and provide them the best education possible via remote [learning],” he says
The ESEA provides additional resources for vulnerable students and federal grants to state educational agencies to improve the quality of public elementary and secondary education. The association is a membership organization made up of state ESEA program administrators and staff from each of the states and territories who are charged with managing their states’ compliance with federal regulations. They ensure that all children—especially those living in economically disadvantaged conditions—have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. More information about the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program is available on the ESEA Network website.
