A middle school in Larkspur is one of two schools in California to receive recognition as 2021 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished Schools, state education officials announced this month.

Hall Middle School in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District joined a school in Shasta County as the two in the state and up to 100 around the country being honored.

According to the California Department of Education, Hall Middle School was selected after having exceptional student performance and academic growth for at least two consecutive years.

The National ESEA Distinguished Schools program honors certain schools that receive federal funding.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond congratulated the two schools in a statement, saying they were “recognized for their excellent work closing opportunity gaps among student groups and ensuring academic growth for all students.”

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.