OCDE Newsroom

From left, Lynne Pentecost, CEO of Schoolhaus Advisors Inc.; Sara Ludovise and Yarib Dheming of OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors; Orange County Board of Education Trustee Mari Barke; Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean; board Clerk Dr. Ken Williams; board President Tim Shaw; Inside the Outdoors Operations Manager Stephanie Smith; and Robert Demmond, associate principal with tBP/Architecture, gather for the Rancho Soñado groundbreaking.

OCDE breaks ground on new Rancho Soñado education center, marking a long-awaited return

Ian Hanigan October 6, 2026

Saddleback High School students learn about plants and growing techniques during a Sept. 21 event celebrating the school’s $10,000 Future Innovators Initiative grant from Hyundai.

$10,000 Hyundai grant supports Saddleback High’s plans for outdoor STEM learning

Vicky Nguyen October 6, 2026

Attendees pose with Carl the Collector and OCDE Language Services Coordinator Natalia Abarca, in orange, during the department’s International Translation Day celebration at PBS SoCal studios in Costa Mesa.

OCDE celebrates International Translation Day at PBS SoCal studios

Vicky Nguyen October 5, 2026

Stacey Middle School students perform El Baile de las Cintas, or the dance of the ribbons, at the City's Fall Festival Culture Night on Sept. 24 honoring Hispanic Heritage Month. (Photos courtesy of Westminster School District)

Weekly roundup: Westminster students honor Hispanic Heritage Month through music and dance, and more

Madeline Gray October 2, 2026

New podcast in English and Spanish guides Orange County families through educational landscape

Madeline Gray October 1, 2026

Winners of the 2025 Orange County Spelling Bee

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y: Seventh-grader wins Orange County Spelling Bee in 14 rounds

Ian Hanigan March 1, 2025

Orange County has a new spelling bee champ. Seventh-grader Sydney Tran from El Rancho Charter School took home the title...

Weekly roundup: Santa Ana promotes healthy eating with eco-friendly food truck, Loara High in Anaheim opens WellSpace, and more

Madeline Gray February 28, 2025

“La Trokita Verde” — Spanish for the little green truck — will begin serving plant-based meals to students on campuses...

Inside the Outdoors to host volunteer restoration day at Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park

Nathaniel Martinez February 26, 2025

Calling all nature enthusiasts: Inside the Outdoors, in partnership with the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, is organizing a volunteer restoration day at Harriett Wieder Regional Park in Huntington Beach to help preserve its unique coastal habitat. The event will take place...

Students, wearing their medals, present their projects to judges for evaluation during the 2024 National History Day-Orange County competition.

Students to compete in National History Day-OC with projects on ‘Rights and Responsibilities’

Vicky Nguyen February 25, 2025

Students from across Orange County will present original research and creative projects at the 2025 National History Day-Orange County competition,...

DHH Academic Bowl team at Connections at University High preps for national competition

Nathaniel Martinez February 24, 2025

At the practices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Academic Bowl team at Connections at University High School, the...

The El Dorado High School mock trial team celebrates their victory alongside Justice Thomas Delaney, the presiding judge. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District)

Weekly roundup: El Dorado High claims OC Mock Trial title, Ocean View School District appoints new superintendent, and more

Vicky Nguyen February 21, 2025

El Dorado High School’s mock trial team, representing the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, is advancing to the 2025 California Mock Trial State Finals after winning the Orange County championship. The tournament, hosted by Teach Democracy — formerly known as...

Members of Troy High School’s Science Olympiad team stand outside the Kresge Auditorium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the 2025 MIT Science Olympiad Invitational.

Troy High School wins MIT Science Olympiad Invitational for seventh time

Vicky Nguyen February 20, 2025

Troy High School’s Science Olympiad teams showcased their skills at the MIT Science Olympiad Invitational on Jan. 25, with one...

State recognizes six OC campuses as Model Continuation High Schools

Ian Hanigan February 19, 2025

Six continuation high schools in Orange County have been named Model Continuation High Schools for 2025. State Superintendent of Public...

Jennifer Garcia, a music teacher from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, and her advanced orchestra students take a bow after their performance at the 2025 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards ceremony.

Spotlight shines on arts education, advocates at 2025 OCMAA Awards

Vicky Nguyen February 18, 2025

Under the glow of stage lights at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Samueli Theater, educators, administrators and arts advocates took center stage Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the 2025 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards. Hosted by the Orange...

Featured Ensure Justice graphic with theme, "Safety Nets"

Building ‘Safety Nets’: OCDE partners with Vanguard University for conference on human trafficking prevention

Ian Hanigan February 17, 2025

To equip families, educators and community members with the tools to prevent human trafficking and exploitation, OCDE is partnering with...