Educators and representatives from the Westminster and Huntington Beach Union High school districts gathered at Westminster High on March 20, 2024, to celebrate the launch of the Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion program pathway. (Photo courtesy of the Huntington Beach Union High School District) 
Westminster High School Principal Amy Sabol welcomed guests to the pathway celebration event. 
Westminster High School students performed a traditional Vietnamese dance in áo dài attire during the March 20, 2024, celebration of the Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion program pathway. (Photo courtesy of the Huntington Beach Union High School District)
More than 8,700 Orange County high school graduates from the 2024-25 school year earned the State Seal of Biliteracy, distinguishing the county as second in California for the number of students achieving proficiency in multiple languages.
The information, shared in a recently published spreadsheet by the California Department of Education, shows that 24 Orange County school districts and 86 schools participated in the program. Among those, Spanish was the most common language recognized, with more than 6,200 students receiving seals. Vietnamese was the second most common, with more than 650 seals awarded, followed by 590 students recognized for proficiency in Mandarin or Cantonese.
The total represents about a 6.5 percent increase from the previous school year, when nearly 8,200 Orange County students earned the seal.
Established in 2011, the state recognition honors graduates who have demonstrated high levels of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing one or more languages in addition to English. The distinction, symbolized by a gold emblem on the diploma or transcript, is conferred by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to promote multilingualism and cultural appreciation.
Across California, nearly 20,000 students in Los Angeles County earned the distinction, the highest total in the state. (Los Angeles is also the most populous county.) Orange County followed with more than 8,700 recipients and San Diego County ranked third with about 5,300. In all, more than 75,000 graduates statewide received the honor.
Here are some other stories from the week:
- The Anaheim Elementary School District has recovered more than $810,000 in state reimbursements through a partnership with TadHealth, turning mental health funding into ongoing support for students and creating a potential model for other California districts.
- OCDE has opened its annual Educational Partner Survey to gather feedback from schools, districts and community members through Nov. 21. The goal is to help improve programs and services that support students across Orange County.
- After the federal Blue Ribbon Schools program ended earlier this year, California announced its own list of 2025 honorees, including four Orange County schools recognized for exceptional academic performance and progress in closing opportunity gaps.
- Four Orange County high schoolers were selected for the 2025 Bank of America Student Leaders program. The students will earn paid summer internships with local nonprofits and join a national summit in Washington, D.C. to grow their leadership and civic engagement skills.
- School counseling professionals from across Orange County were recognized for their leadership and impact during the California Association of School Counselors’ 25th anniversary conference.
- California schools are expected to expand phonics-based reading instruction under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which updates curriculum materials and funds teacher training in the science of reading.
- Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s largest drug prevention campaign, began this week and continues through Oct. 31. Established to honor the legacy of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, the annual observance encourages students to make healthy, drug-free choices through schoolwide activities and community engagement.
- As schools urge families to follow relaxed sick-day guidelines to combat chronic absenteeism, many parents — especially of young children — remain hesitant to send students to class with colds, citing health concerns and lingering post-pandemic caution.
- California’s ethnic studies graduation requirement remains on hold due to a lack of state funding, prompting school districts to take varied approaches as they navigate implementation and curriculum decisions.
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