Irvine is Home to Most California Distinguished Schools in Orange County

Irvine Unified is home to the most California Distinguished Schools per district in all of Orange County. Irvine High, Rancho San Joaquin Middle, Sierra Vista Middle, and Woodbridge High each received the distinction.

“Distinguished School award winners represent examples of not just excellent teaching, learning, and collaboration, but also highly successful school climate efforts ranging from real-time conflict resolution to positive behavior intervention,” a statement from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said.

The California Distinguished Schools program recognizes outstanding education programs and practices. Schools are awarded for achieving exceptional student performance for two consecutive school years or closing the achievement gap between two school years, and are called on to share their successful programs and practices with other educators.

Here are the local schools, by district, honored in 2019:

Anaheim Union High School District:

• Lexington Junior High
• Oxford Academy

Capistrano Unified School District:

• Bernice Ayer Middle
• Carl Hankey Middle

Fountain Valley School District:

• Harry C. Fulton Middle
• Kazua Masuda Middle
• Samuel E. Talbert Middle

Fullerton Joint Union High School District:

• Sunny Hills High

Garden Grove Unified School District:

• Bolsa Grande High
• Garden Grove High
• Pacifica High

Huntington Beach City School District:

• Ethel Dwyer Middle
• Isaac L. Sowers Middle

Huntington Beach Union High School District:

• Edison High
• Marina High

Irvine Unified School District:

• Irvine High
• Rancho San Joaquin Middle
• Sierra Vista Middle
• Woodbridge High

Laguna Beach Unified School District:

• Thurston Middle

Newport-Mesa Unified School District:

• Early College High

Ocean View School District:

• Mesa View Middle

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District: 

• Yorba Linda Middle

Santa Ana Unified School District:

• Nova Academy

Tustin Unified School District:

• Arnold O. Beckman High

Source: Orange County Register