AOC, Legacy Christian win national award

Two Santa Clarita Valley schools, one public and one private, have been honored as National Blue Ribbon Schools in recognition of the high academic achievement of their students, officials announced Tuesday.

Academy of the Canyons, a public school in the William S. Hart Union High School District, and Legacy Christian Academy, a private elementary

and middle school in Valencia, were two of 335 schools nationwide to be recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools this year, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors elementary, middle and high schools based on either overall academic achievement or their progress in closing achievement gaps in their student bodies.

AOC is a public middle college high school, which means students are “actively dually enrolled in College of the Canyons courses” and high school classes, according to Principal Pete Getz.

The rigorous coursework,

along with the tight-knit school community, can both be credited for the Blue Ribbon award, Getz said.

“The students are phenomenal; they’re high-achieving and they’re very focused on their academics,” Getz said. “But what makes this place very unique is the dedication and time that the entire staff puts into each and every student.”

“We’re all part of the success and this achievement,” he added.

Legacy Principal Matt Northrop said Tuesday’s announcement marked the first time the school has been named a Blue Ribbon School, and “we are humbled, honored and thankful to receive the distinction.”

“We are a school that is shaping innovative, 21st

century leaders with strong character,” he said. “This is also a great tribute to our founders, Tim and Donna Borruel, as well as to our excellent, hard-working staff who make learning fun in the classroom each and every day.”

Northrop credited Legacy’s small class sizes, individualized attention for students and rigorous academic expectations as reasons the school received the honor.

“We also really focus on character, and I think that’s a piece that oftentimes can be left out in education, sadly,” he said.

In a video message, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told this year’s crop of Blue Ribbon award recipeints, “This honor recognizes your students’ accomplishments and the hard work and dedication that went into their success.”

“Your journey has taught you collaboration, intentional instruction, and strong relationships in school and with your community,” Duncan said. “You represent excellence — in vision, in implementation, and in results — and we want to learn as much as we can from you.”

All schools honored this year will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 9-10.

Signal Chief of Video and Audio Operations Austin Dave contributed to this story.