Vista Verde Middle School is One to Watch

Students, staff, parents, district leaders, school board members and community members are celebrating the redesignation of Vista Verde Middle School as one of California’s Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage model middle schools. “We are thrilled to have received this recognition,” said Principal Esperanza Arce. “Our staff and students have worked very hard in an exciting and challenging middle school program to demonstrate strong student achievement. This redesignation is an affirmation of the fine work so many have done in the school, district and larger community.” Dr. Irvin Howard, president of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, noted, “Vista Verde Middle School is a model of what an outstanding middle school can be. School leaders from across the state will now turn to Vista Verde Middle School for guidance on improving their programs to better serve their students.” Vista Verde Middle School serves 6th to 8th grade students in Val Verde District. California’s Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage program uses a competitive, rigorous review process to identify high performing, high impact middle schools so that all middle schools may have models of real-world success. Vista Verde Middle School is one of just of 59 model schools that have been identified statewide since 2003. The program is provided by the California Middle Grades Alliance, which includes the California League of Middle Schools (CLMS), the lead agency; California Department of Education, and other statewide educational organizations who are partners in the California Middle Grades Alliance.