Local high school up for state award

Corona del Mar High School has been nominated for a California Distinguished School Award, and stands to be Newport-Mesa’s 23rd recipient of the honor if it wins in April.

The state Department of Education gives out the awards every year, with elementary and secondary schools celebrated in alternate years. Corona del Mar High, which has consistently posted the highest test scores of any high school in the Newport-Mesa district, previously won Distinguished School recognition in 1988 and 1996.

“I think it’s a great honor for the school,” said Principal Fal Asrani, who is in her second year at Corona del Mar High. “The staff have worked very hard to get this, and the kids have performed outstandingly, so we truly deserve this nomination.”

Administrators apply for the Distinguished School award in the fall by submitting a series of forms to the state office. To garner a nomination, a school must meet both state and federal benchmarks for standardized test results. The state sends evaluation teams to visit each nominated school.

Jim Miller, an awards consultant for the state, said his office would announce the winners on April 17 and honor them at the Disneyland Hotel on May 18.

In 2006, Newport-Mesa tied its record for most winners in a year when California, Lincoln, Mariners and Victoria elementary schools all took the prize. The state began giving the Distinguished School award in 1985.