“We are not an academy, charter school and we don’t have learning communities. We are a regular high school. And yet we’ve become a high-achieving, sought-after school.”
Burroughs was among 261 sites — 136 middle and 125 high schools — selected by State Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and the Department of Education.
Burroughs previously received the award in 1996. However, criteria recently established by the state proved to be more rigorous than in previous years, said Jan Britz, Burbank Unified’s assistant superintendent of instructional services. The state this year chose what schools could apply based on overall test scores as well as the test scores of underprivileged students.
Burroughs students, beginning in 2000, saw improved scores on state standardized tests and the California High School Exit Examination every year through 2008. What’s more, Urioste said, the school’s underprivileged students — defined by the state as Hispanic, African American, English-language learners and those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged — have outpaced their white counterparts of late.
Urioste charged a team of five teachers and one counselor with completing the application, made up of two prompts asking schools to identify signature practices leading to students’ academic achievement.
The Burroughs committee highlighted two practices, which it dubbed “Personalizing Education” and “Whatever it Takes,” and provided the rationale behind them, said Tom Crowther, a committee member and special-education teacher.
