Press Release

For Release on Friday, January 8, 2008

Mountain View Whisman School District

750-A San Pierre Way

Mountain View, CA 94043

For further information, contact

Dr. Maurice Ghysels, Superintendent

650-526-3552

Castro Elementary School Earns Title I Academic Achievement Award

Mariano Castro Elementary School has been awarded the prestigious 2008 Title I Academic Achievement Award.  This award is given to Title I schools that have demonstrated their ability to close the achievement gap or maintain an API score of 800 or above. The entire Castro learning community is especially proud of this accomplishment because Castro was also removed from NCLB’s Program Improvement status this year due to its strong gains in student achievement particularly among low income, English language learners and Hispanic students. 

 Castro’s Principal Carmen Mizell will accept the award at a ceremony in Los Angeles on April 22, 2008.  When learning about the award, Principal Mizell stated, “I am so proud of the achievement of our students.  Under the guidance and instruction of the professional and dedicated staff at Castro School , and with the strong support of our parent community and our district, we were able to reach and even surpass our goals.”

Mariano Castro School is located in Mountain View and offers three strong academic programs: the district-wide Dual Immersion language program (Spanish and English) Parent, Child Teacher (PACT), and neighborhood students. Castro exemplifies a professional educational community that provides an optimal learning environment to address the diverse needs of their student population. Castro teachers, parents, and community partners share a common mission to demonstrate, daily, a relentless commitment to the success of every child.

Castro is the second school in the Mountain View Whisman School District to receive this award.  For the last two years, Edith Landels School also received the Title I Academic Achievement Award. 

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