The school, that is, not the big red dog. Chicken Corner just received news from Cecilia Padilla Brill, a parent-volunteer at the Echo Park school, that it has been named a 2009 "National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence." The award was bestowed by the U.S. Dept. of Education.

Padilla Brill wrote:

Our school, Clifford Street Elementary, located in northeast Los Angeles in Echo Park, was recently named a 2009 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Only six schools in LAUSD and 264 public schools nationally were selected for the award. Despite the challenges of the student population being 86 percent economically disadvantage and threats to shut its doors through the years, Clifford continues to thrive. ... This is a remarkable milestone considering the difficulties LAUSD has faced in the past few years.

A press release announces a celebration at the Duane St. campus on April 9 at 12:30 p.m.

Dignitaries and community members slated to speak include California State Assemblymember Kevin de Leon, 45th Assembly District; Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti; Yolie Flores Aguilar, LAUSD's Board Vice President; Bobby Hill, Senior Lead Officer and Dave Lindsey, Captain I, of Los Angeles Police Department's Northeast Division; and Frank Mitchell, President, Echo Park Chamber of Commerce.

The school's API is 841. Now all they need is a famous cat, like Elysian Heights Elementary's Room 8. On second thought, make that a dog.