Regular blog readers may recall that Maria Carrillo High School is among the nine Sonoma County middle and high schools being honored today as a California Distinguished School, in no small part because of their rigorous curriculum but also because the state recognized the strides they are making in closing the achievement gap between white students and students of color.

A big party and ceremony is planned today at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

But today is also graduation day for about 325 Puma seniors, so school officials are saying home.

“When it comes to going (to Anaheim) or being here for here for my students, the choice was easy,” said Carrillo Principal Mark Klick, who added that he and staffers are “very disappointed” to be missing the awards ceremony.

The decision to stay for graduation tonight was unanimous, he said. He is in talks with State Superintendent Jack O’Connell’s office to have a separate ceremony at some point in Sacramento.

Other local schools being honored today include:

Technology High

Hillcrest Middle School

Mark West Charter

Piner-Olivet Charter

Maria Carrillo High

Twin Hills Middle

Analy High

El Molino High

Windsor Middle