Twenty-two Sonoma County schools have been recognized by the California Business for Education Excellence.

Eighteen schools were noted for excelling in “getting students to grade level proficiency” according to the letter from CBEE executive director Kirk Clark.

The 2009 honor roll list from the CBEE increased from 911 in 2008 to 1,304 in 2009.

“We got a nice banner that I hung up,” said Eric Hoppes, superintendent of Wilmar School district and principal at Wilson School.

On the honor roll list are:

Yulupa Elementary

Hillcrest Elementary

Salmon Creek

Liberty Elementary

Riebli Elementary

Oak Grove Elementary

Sonoma Mountain Elementary

Grant Elementary

Austin Creek Elementary

Sequoia Elementary

Hidden Valley Satellite

Maria Carrillo High

Rincon Valley Middle

Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter

Apple Blossom

Meadow Elementary

Analy High

Wilson Elementary

Four Sonoma County schools were named to the group’s “Star Schools – High Poverty” honor roll. Those schools are Whited Elementary, Spring Creek and Matanzas Charter, J.X. Wilson Elementary and Robert L. Stevens Elementary.

“It is a big deal to be a Star School because it really shows that you are closing the gap” between white students and their peers who are English language learners, said Casey D’Angelo, superintendent of Wright School District in Santa Rosa that includes R.L Stevens and J.X. Wilson schools.

For more about the California Business for Education Excellence, go to http://www.cbeefoundation.org/