MECA has been awarded with the high honor of a National Blue ribbon, an award given to a select few schools for academic excellence, and the completion of a rigorous application, exemplifying the true meaning of Mt SAC Early College Academy’s achievement.

What is the National Blue Ribbon Award?

MECA has had the great honor of receiving a high standing achievement known as the National Blue Ribbon Award.  This privilege is only given to those who display exemplary academic success in the general good of a school, bridging the gap in education between diverse groups. Dr. Katarina Garcia, the assistant principal, expresses how, “If you look, there’s not many schools that achieve this that have the same demographic rate that we do, in the same kind of city that we live in.”

 The aforementioned distinction is endowed to schools across the nation from The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program (NBRS), established in 1982, by the second Secretary of Education, Tarrel H. Bell. An award of such presence is highly coveted by those within the education district, displaying their efforts to better those who attend their schools. Emily Hijar, office manager, describes how it is “even more special that we’re such a young school […] able to earn that award so early on in our establishment, it just speaks in volumes to the staff here [and] the students.”

For over forty years, the NBRS has awarded close to 10,000 awards to 9,000 different schools. Such schools include public, charter, magnet/choice, Title 1,  and non-public schools. However, exceptional education and fierce competition are not the only barriers these schools must endure, as both preliminary awards and the completion of a rigorous application process are required. Johan Cordero, the Spanish 1 and 2 teacher, notes that, “A lot of the work was actually done by Dr. McDonnell, he was the one that sent out the application, he’s the one that…did all the writing and so forth.”

What is the process of getting a Blue Ribbon?

An award of such prestige is anything but easy to get, as an intensive application procedure and yearly set requirements are vital towards qualifying. Claire Contreras, counselor, notes that “hard work is what got us here. It just shows how bright our students are and how focused our students are, despite all of the challenges of things that they’ve experienced in these last few years.”

Schools must also meet certain criteria for state assessments in reading, mathematics, or other combinations of student performance in school (e.g. graduation rates, growth in state assessments, performance in other state testing, and more). Within the award categories, schools may qualify for a single honor, one of which may be the Exemplary High Performing award or the Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing award.

Nevertheless, the achievement of this award would not have been possible, had it not been for both the staff and the students, contributing to both the overall fulfillment of the yearly requirement for English or mathematics, and the ninety- five percent participation in state assessments, pushing themselves and their school towards success.

A Data Driven Award

This year, 33 schools in  California earned the prestigious Blue Ribbon School award, recognizing their excellence in education. Among these amazing schools is Mt. SAC Early College Academy, which made history as the first secondary school in the West Covina Unified School District to earn this achievement. 

Dr. Garcia states, “It’s pretty exciting because we’re the first school in West Covina Unified but we’re also like the only school in pretty much San Gabriel Valley. I think the only other closest schools are like Walnut and Diamond Bar. So this is a really big deal, we’re like the only one in the area and that’s pretty exciting.” This award highlights the hard work and dedication of the students, teachers, and staff in maintaining high academic standards.

Nationwide, a total of  421 schools were awarded the Blue Ribbon prize, proof, and evidence of the complex criteria involved in earning this honor. With roughly 10,000 schools across California , the achievement of 33 schools, including MECA, reflects the commitment and potential to exceptional educational outcomes.

The Path of Success

MECA’s students have shown remarkable dedication to their studies, putting in many hours of hard work to reach their goals. Their focus on learning, participation, and courage to face challenges have highly contributed to the school’s success. Emily Hijar explains, “They’re all so self motivated and they’re academically driven. There’s a lot of dedication within the students.” This award shows off their efforts and serves as proof of their determination and growth.

Along with the students, MECA’s administration and staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that the school meets and exceeds educational standards. Their dedication to creating a positive learning environment, developing a safe place and supporting all students has played an important role in earning the Blue Ribbon award. Claire Contreras says, “Being here since we opened in 2018, it means a lot because I’ve put literally blood, sweat, and tears into this school. Just being available for students and families and staff and we really are a family here. So it means a lot to me.” Hijar explains something similar, saying, “Our administration, Dr. McDonnell has really put his heart and soul into the school. Everybody plays a part.”

Receiving the Blue Ribbon award will open new doors of opportunity to MECA. Julie Shigo, office assistant, states, “What a great opportunity for growth, for our name to get out there, and for the opportunity for our school to  expand.” This achievement will not only enhance the school’s reputation but also provide students with access to more educational and academic opportunities, further preparing them for the future. Later, Shigo explains, “It’s everybody working together. It’s not one gear working faster than the other gear. Each one of us components working together in order for all of us to be successful.” Together, MECA’s success will only continue to grow. As the National Blue Ribbon is great recognition and a perfect reflection of the school, MECA will continue to strive for more. 

The Physical Award

In November, Dr. Ryan McDonnell and Claire Contreras will travel to Washington on behalf of  MECA, and receive the National Blue Ribbon award. Their attendance at the significant event marks a proud moment in MECA history, as well as bringing another bright achievement to the West Covina Unified School District.