Los Osos Middle School and Laguna Middle School were honored with the prestigious designation as National and State “Schools to Watch.” The recognition, awarded by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform in partnership with the California League of Schools, celebrates middle schools’ commitment to excellence in education and their outstanding support for students.
Both schools received word of their designations in late November. For Los Osos, this year’s designation marks their third such award, and second “re-designation.” Laguna Middle School is receiving the honor for the first time. The schools will receive their awards along with other middle schools from around California that also received the award.
“To be one of 600 ‘Schools to Watch’ out of approx. 1,400 middle schools in California is an awesome honor,” said Karl Blum, Principal at Los Osos Middle School. “And while the designation itself is great, the process is equally as meaningful because it causes us to self-reflect on our successes and grow where we need to grow.”
The “Schools to Watch” designation recognizes exemplary middle schools based on a reflective self-study in four areas:
• Academic Excellence
• Developmental Responsiveness
• Social Equity
• Organizational Processes and Procedures
If the application is approved, the school hosts a validation visit. If the school meets the qualifications, the school becomes a California School to Watch.
“We are immensely proud of Los Osos Middle School and Laguna Middle School for this designation,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Prater. “This recognition underscores their tireless efforts to continuously improve and create nurturing and innovative learning environments that empower our students to thrive academically and personally.”
Schools to Watch is a national network of over 600 schools in 17 states. California is the largest state participant. For the “Schools to Watch” recognition, go to
