/Fresno

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell announced that Fresno Unified School District’s Baird Middle School, Computech Middle School, and Design Science High School were selected as 2009 California Distinguished Schools, an annual award that recognizes some of the state’s most exemplary public schools. “This recognition is a testament to the outstanding work of the students, staff, and parents at Baird, Computech, and Design Science High School,” said FUSD Superintendent Michael Hanson. “We commend the continued efforts of these schools to prepare career ready graduates.”

Fresno Unified School District schools have received 40 California Distinguished School awards since the program began in 1986. The selected middle and high schools represent about 10.9 percent of California's nearly 2,400 middle and high schools. Of those, only 341 schools met the eligibility criteria based on their student achievement and were chosen from 170 school districts in 46 counties. An awards ceremony honoring the Distinguished Schools will be held Friday, May 29 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The Disneyland Resort is a major corporate sponsor of the event.