Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) was named a School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America (MSA) for the first time. Schools awarded this honor demonstrate outstanding magnet education, dedication, innovative curricula and their overall impact on students and communities.
“When you consider how small our school is, because a school with 2,000-3,000 kids, the chance of greatness is greater than us, (but) we are literally on the Mike Tyson punch out,” Magnet Coordinator James Morrison said. “But we’re against (these) big schools (and) we’re just as good as any other magnets. We punch high above what people believe we can do.”
MSA is a national nonprofit education association that represents magnet schools in the U.S. On Jan. 17, the association awarded 206 Magnet Schools of Distinction, 192 Magnet Schools of Excellence and 94 Top Schools of Excellence. DPMHS is one of the 89 schools under the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to be recognized. According to Morrison, the school missed the Top Schools of Excellence by nine points.
“To have received it, it speaks to the efforts of the school, the staff, teachers, volunteers on the amazing environment that we have at the school and how we foster high student achievement,” Principal Armen Petrossian said.
MSA focuses on recognizing schools with quality education, performing arts, diversion, equity, inclusion and all areas of magnet schools. While these subjects are highly valued, other areas are notable, such as students’ successes with numerous outstanding awards in the student media program and individual awards, like the Warren Christopher scholarship. Another notable area was the improvement in AP test scores, pushing near national averages of AP test pass rates.
“Now knowing that our school is among the top of the nation, I feel very happy for the generations to come,” Associated Student Body (ASB) President Genesis Cuellar-Figueora said. “Having such a grand title, this award can show our school under a better light.”
Students and faculty hope the award followed by the title will contribute to solving the rise of low enrollment. The school hopes to hang banners on campus not only to empower students, but to showcase their hard work. Petrossian and Morrison plan on applying for the award as many times as possible in hopes of receiving the highest award. For future students and seniors, this award can be included on their college applications that they attended a magnet school in the top 4% in the nation.
“This is an accurate reflection of the good and hard work students put in, so we invite people who are considering options for high school and those that are reconsidering it,” math and Portuguese teacher Gonçalo Fino De Sousa said. “This finally, now, proves our hard work.”
