Briefly In Education

Several receive Honor Roll title

El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools, Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School received the California Business for Education Excellence's 2011 Honor Roll title, according to a news release.

The schools are four of 1,614 California public schools to be given the honor. The CBEE Honor Roll is made up of two different awards, the Star Schools Award and the Scholar Schools Award, the latter of which the LBUSD schools were given.

Schools that receive the Scholar Schools Award have shown high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time and reduction in achievement gaps among students, and college readiness for high schools, the release said.

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High school makes U.S. News & World Report ranking

Laguna Beach High School again was recognized as an outstanding school in the State and the Nation by U.S. News & World Report, according to a news release.

"It takes teamwork, effort, and drive to create and sustain a high performing high school," Supt. Sherine Smith said in a statement. "On behalf of the Board of Education and Laguna Beach Unified School District, I commend Dr. Culverhouse, the students, teachers and staff, and the parents and community who provide us with such deep support."

In the U.S., 21,776 public high schools were reviewed for the rankings, which used information collected by U.S. Department of Education, among other sources, the release said.

In California, 577 schools made the ranking. Laguna Beach High School ranked 113th within California and 589th in the national rankings.

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Local named to Dean's List

Laguna Beach resident David Watkins was named to the Dean's List at Champlain College for his academic achievements, which include having a 3.5 grade point average or higher, according to a press release.

Watkins is majoring in Computer Information Technology at Champlain College, which is based in Burlington, Vt.

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SchoolPower thanks supporters

SchoolPower's Business Appreciation party was held at The Deck restaurant at Pacific Edge Hotel May 3, according to a news release.

The foundation thanked loyal supporters and directory advertisers at the event, which had several longtime business sponsors and Laguna Beach Unified School District leaders and principals in attendance.