EDITORIAL:

In Newport-Mesa schools, sometimes it seems myth supersedes reality.

The school district is both blessed and at times cursed by highly critical parents and community members who, rightfully, don’t want their schools to be known for low test scores and low-achieving students.

This is particularly true in the Costa Mesa schools where high numbers of students are second-language learners.

But sometimes the criticisms are not based on facts, and instead are based on false rumors or unrealistic expectations.

We found that to be the case last year at TeWinkle Middle School. Rumor and innuendo in the community had TeWinkle rife with gangs and other dangerous hooligans.

So we dispatched a reporter to TeWinkle and guess what we found? We found a typical suburban school with typical challenges. We found no gangs, no children cowering in the corners for fear of their life.

TeWinkle school leaders and parents followed up with a truth squad project in the community designed to dispel false impressions of the school.

But for those who choose to believe only rumors and falsehoods, that didn’t matter. They continued then, and most likely continue now, to spread their fear-based philosophy.

Now it’s Adams Elementary School’s time in the spotlight.

A group of parents have taken school officials to task over teacher performance issues and test scores.

But a deeper look into Adams’ situation by our reporter Joseph Serna found most of the perceptions to be off the mark or exaggerated.

We are the first to say that school district officials should be held accountable for low performing schools. We believe teachers and administrators should be striving for excellence, inside the classroom and out. We’ve written editorials saying as much for years.

But Adams is not a terrible school. It’s a school with challenges and changing demographics, and that’s not unlike many schools throughout Orange County and the state. The answer is to offer support and encourage parent participation, not throw stones.

With a little work, Adams can be more than a good school, it can be a great school.

For those who are hardened to believe the worst, we don’t have any illusions that we will change any minds. But we encourage those who believe in their schools to not be discouraged. Drown out the naysayers with truth and optimism and work to make Adams school the best it can be.