Middle College High was one of seven schools in Contra Costa County, and among 162 middle and high schools in the state, to be named as a 2019 Distinguished School by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
A West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) high school operating at Contra Costa College since 1989, Middle College provides a highly rigorous academic program that enables students to obtain their high school diploma while taking college courses and earning college credit. The school is no stranger to recognition, having been ranked multiple times among the nation’s best by U.S. News World Report.
Middle College was the lone WCCUSD school to earn a place in the California Dept. of Education’s 2019 Distinguished Schools Program. Other Contra Costa schools making the list were Acalanes; Miramonte High; Mt. Diablo; Foothill Middle; San Ramon Valley; California High; Los Cerros Middle; Pine Valley Middle and Windemere Ranch Middle.
The 2019 Distinguished Schools Program “recognizes outstanding education programs and practices, leading to the achievement of “exceptional student performance for two consecutive school years or closing the achievement gap between two school years,” according to the California Department of Education.
Indicators include test scores, suspension rates, and graduation rates.
“I would like to commend these schools for fighting for a better future for our students, closing achievement gaps, and improving academic performance,” Thurmond said in a statement. “Thanks to teachers, administrators, classified employees, and parents working together, these schools meet the needs of all of their students, provide high-quality educational experiences, and put kids on a pathway to great careers.”
