More than 40 OC campuses named among California’s Distinguished Schools

Forty-four elementary schools in Orange County have that Distinguished look.

The California Distinguished Schools award is considered the state’s top honor for public schools, recognizing campuses that demonstrate exceptional academic performance and efforts to close longstanding achievement gaps.

On Tuesday, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced that 336 elementary schools across California had earned the distinction for 2025. Of that total, about 13 percent are located here in Orange County, including 10 schools from the Garden Grove Unified School District.

“To have 44 schools in Orange County recognized at the state level is a remarkable achievement,” Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean said. “It speaks to the strong partnerships between educators, staff, students and families in creating supportive campuses and high-performing school communities.”

Meeting high standards

Schools can earn the designation in one of two ways based on results from the California School Dashboard.

A category for exceptional student performance highlights overall academic success, while another category honors schools that have made significant progress in closing achievement gaps.

Either way, schools needed to test at least 95 percent of their students over the past two school years and meet high standards in areas such as English language arts, math, attendance and suspension rates.

“This year’s California Distinguished Schools celebration provides us with an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our elementary educators and school staff who help our students discover passions and experiences that will propel them,” Thurmond said in a statement.

Orange County’s winners

Here are this year’s honorees from across Orange County:

• Jefferson (Thomas) Elementary School, Anaheim Elementary School District
• Olinda Elementary School, Brea-Olinda Unified School District
• Oso Grande Elementary School, Capistrano Unified School District
• Philip J. Reilly Elementary School, Capistrano Unified School District
• Truman Benedict Elementary School, Capistrano Unified School District
• Beechwood Elementary School, Fullerton School District
• Robert C. Fisler Elementary School, Fullerton School District
• Excelsior Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Loyal Barker Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• A. G. Cook Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Patton Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Susan B. Anthony Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Merton E. Hill Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Brookhurst Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Louis G. Zeyen Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Ocia A. Peters Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School, Garden Grove Unified School District
• Ralph E. Hawes Elementary School, Huntington Beach City School District
• Plaza Vista School, Irvine Unified School District
• Bonita Canyon Elementary School, Irvine Unified School District
• Eastshore Elementary School, Irvine Unified School District
• Portola Springs Elementary School, Irvine Unified School District
• Arbolita Elementary School, La Habra City School District
• Rossmoor Elementary School, Los Alamitos Unified School District
• Heinz Kaiser Elementary School, Newport-Mesa Unified School District
• Adams Elementary School, Newport-Mesa Unified School District
• Irvine International Academy, a charter school in Orange County
• Oxford Preparatory Academy – Saddleback Valley, a charter school in Orange County
• Nohl Canyon Elementary School, Orange Unified School District
• Taft Elementary School, Orange Unified School District
• Golden Elementary School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
• Sierra Vista Elementary School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
• Lakeview Elementary School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
• De Portola Elementary School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District
• Robinson Elementary School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District
• Rancho Canada Elementary School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District
• Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District
• Fremont Elementary School, Santa Ana Unified School District
• Arroyo Elementary School, Tustin Unified School District
• Tustin Ranch Elementary School, Tustin Unified School District
• Ladera Elementary School, Tustin Unified School District
• Red Hill Elementary School, Tustin Unified School District
• Orchard Hills School, Tustin Unified School District
• Benjamin F. Beswick Elementary School, Tustin Unified School District

Title spans two years

Established in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools program alternates each year between elementary and secondary campuses, with awardees holding the title for two years.

All of the schools will be formally celebrated during a statewide ceremony on May 30 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

To see the full list of 2025 honorees, visit the California Department of Education’s website.