Sulphur Springs Union School District announced Friday that their school district has been selected by Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE) as one of 13 public school districts in California to receive the title of 2015 Honor Roll School District. The five schools that are being recognized are Fair Oaks Ranch, Leona Cox, Mint Canyon, Mitchell, and Valley View Community Schools.

The Honor Roll is part of a national effort to identify higher-performing schools and highlight successful practices that improve outcomes for students. School districts receiving this distinction have demonstrated consistent high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time and reduction in achievement gaps among student populations. For school districts with high schools, the Honor Roll recognition also includes measures of college readiness.

“We are so proud to be recognized by education and business leaders in California as an Honor Roll School District,” said Catherine Kawaguchi, Sulphur Springs Union School District Superintendent. “Our teachers and administrators work tirelessly to keep the focus on high expectations and student academic achievement and to continuously improve our practices. This hard work and dedication is paying off for all of our students, no matter their background.”

“We as adults have the opportunity to remove obstacles and boost momentum along the pathway from presechool to career,” said Lee Blitch, ERP Board Chairman and President of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. “When we close achievement gaps, we set our children on a path of productivity that not only leads to success in the classroom, but also prepares them to contribute to and benefit from a more productive economy. These Honor Roll schools are setting their students on the path to a college degree and the financial security of a living wage job.”

“The American education system has a secret,” said Jim Lanich, ERP President and CEO.  “Many schools are doing well. The Honor Roll proves it. Students are achieving at higher levels than anyone admits and more students than ever are succeeding when given the opportunity. All schools, no matter what zip code they are in, can achieve this kind of success. Leadership from the business community is critical to ensuring successes for all students.”

The annual Honor Roll award is made possible by support from numerous businesses and organizations including State Farm, AAA, Macy’s, Wells Fargo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and several private foundations. Chevron Corporation provided specific support in the creation of the STEM Honor Roll.