With the constant churn of the news cycle, you may have missed some very local, very good news – recent CAASPP testing results show that Miramonte students earned among the highest scores in the state.

While Miramonte students performed strongly across science and math, there was especially notable progress in English. Miramonte seniors were the only students in the Bay Area to improve their year-over-year English scores and to surpass their 2021 results, the year when the academic effects of the pandemic first became evident in standardized testing.

In an era of rapid technological change, growing reliance on AI, and frequent headlines about students arriving at college unprepared for the demands of college-level reading and writing, this achievement is especially meaningful. It reflects a school culture that values close reading, thoughtful discussion, and clear expression, because strong readers build strong thinkers.

For this and so much more, we owe sincere thanks to the Miramonte English Department. These dedicated and professional educators work hard every day to teach students to write clear, compelling, and well-reasoned essays, think critically, and develop a lasting appreciation for reading.

To celebrate that work, we asked Miramonte English teachers, administrators, and librarians to share books they love. After all, who doesn’t love a good book recommendation? We hope you will discover a new favorite and fall more in love with reading through their selections.

We are so grateful for your support of ONE-Miramonte, which helps provide all Miramonte teachers with the resources to inspire strong readers and strong thinkers.