Torrey Pines Elementary receives national ‘Blue Ribbon’ recognition

Torrey Pines Elementary School in La Jolla was one of two elementary schools in San Diego named as National Blue Ribbon Schools, the state Department of Education announced on Tuesday, Sept. 24

Torrey Pines Elementary, along with Ocean Air Elementary School in Carmel Valley, were honored for either being high achieving or having made significant academic improvements.

Students at the high achieving schools are expected to be among the state’s top performers in English and mathematics on standardized tests, while various social and economic subgroups are supposed to score, as well as their peers.

“These schools are wonderful illustrations of the work we do here in California schools to prepare our students to thrive in the world they will find outside of our classrooms,” said state Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson. “I am proud to see them held up as national examples.”

In California, 13 public schools and two private institutions were honored. Nationwide, 236 public schools were named along with 50 private campuses.

Torrey Pines Elementary’s new principal, Sarah Ott, said the school received the honor due to academic rigor and high performance.

In its application to become a Blue Ribbon school, Ott said the school highlighted how it integrates “critical thinking skills in literacy and in math.”

The school will hold an assembly on Wednesday to explain the recognition to students, “congratulate them and tell the that their hard work is being recognized,” she said.

The winning schools can display a blue ribbon flag on their campuses.

Ott said she and former Torrey Pines Elementary principal Jim Solo would likely travel to Washington, D.C. in November, where the winning schools will be honored.