EL MONTE – Two El Monte Union high schools – Arroyo and Rosemead – have been named to the 2017-18 California Honor Roll for demonstrating consistently high levels of student academic achievement, narrowing the achievement gap and preparing students for college.

The honor is given by the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and sponsored by the Campaign for Businesses and Educational Excellence (CBEE), based on the results of state standardized tests in math and English language arts (ELA) taken in spring 2017.

The program, which this year recognized 1,798 schools in California, is part of a national effort to identify higher-performing schools and districts that are improving student outcomes.

Arroyo and Rosemead high schools were identified as Star Schools, a category for high-performing schools with a large population of socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

“I want to thank our principals for their leadership, motivating our students to perform at grade level and beyond, and establishing a culture of college and career readiness,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “It is an honor for our schools to receive this recognition and serve as models to other schools wanting to replicate their success.”

Arroyo is a Gold Ribbon School and Exemplary Arts Program School with a 92 percent graduation rate; Rosemead is also a Gold Ribbon School and a Title 1 Academic Achievement School with an 87 percent graduation rate.

Both schools offer a host of learning opportunities aligned to college and career readiness, including a rigorous academic curriculum, career technical education pathways, student leadership activities such as Academic Decathlon and Science Olympiad, as well as academic support to accelerate student success and improve educational equity.