[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8260]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING LE GRAND UNION HIGH SCHOOL AND DOS PALOS HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN 
                       JOAQUIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two exemplary high 
schools in my district: Le Grand Union High School and Dos Palos High 
School.
  In California's San Joaquin Valley, one of the most economically 
challenged regions of the Nation, having access to a quality education 
is critical for our young people, and these two schools shine on both 
the State and national levels.
  Recently, both Le Grand and Dos Palos were acknowledged by the U.S. 
News & World Report's annual grading as among the top high schools in 
America. Not only are Le Grand High School and Dos Palos among the best 
in Merced County, but they both ranked among the top five high schools 
in our region. Their accomplishments show how our students, with the 
right encouragement and support, in fact, can succeed.
  Students, regardless of their socioeconomic status or being college 
bound, deserve a quality education that prepares them for the road 
ahead. And both Le Grand and Dos Palos High Schools are doing just 
that. Mr. Speaker, 81 percent of the students at Le Grand High School 
and 97 percent of the students at Dos Palos High School qualify as low-
income.
  These are challenging and difficult areas. I am proud to say that, at 
both Le Grand High School and Dos Palos, approximately half of all 
enrollees are in AP classes and taking the end-of-year test for college 
credit. Now, what does that mean? It means that every day these 
students are actively seizing opportunities to change their lives for 
the better, and for that, we are glad.
  Mr. Speaker, when our students succeed, our Nation succeeds because, 
after all, they are the future of America. The great success of these 
students would not be possible without the amazing support of both the 
faculty and the staff at both high schools. These are the teachers and 
educators who see promise in our students and inspire them to follow 
their dreams and progress, teachers who have dedicated their 
professional careers to public education in America.
  To Le Grand Union High School Principal Javier Martinez, the Le Grand 
Union High School faculty and staff, their board of directors, and the 
Le Grand student body, job well done.
  To the Dos Palos High School Principal Heather Ruiz, the Dos Palos 
High School faculty and staff, the Dos Palos-Oro Loma School District 
Board of Trustees, and to that student body, again, a job well done.
  Let me take this opportunity to say a big thank-you to all of you, 
and congratulations in achieving the Silver Medal Award given annually 
by the U.S. News & World Report. Your collective academic achievement 
is a source of pride not only in our community, but throughout the 
Nation.
  Most importantly, all of you are making a difference, making a 
difference for our students. Thank you for setting the example, and 
thank you for the difference you are making in their lives. It is an 
honor and a privilege to represent you, and keep up the good work.

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