Quick look: Forty-two Orange County middle and high schools have been named 2026 California Distinguished Schools, considered the state’s highest honor for public education.
Forty-two middle and high schools in Orange County have earned recognition as 2026 California Distinguished Schools, the state’s top honor for public schools.
On Tuesday, March 10, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 408 middle and high schools statewide received the distinction, based on performance data from the 2025 California State Dashboard.
“It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 408 schools for their efforts to move the needle for student achievement, no matter what,” Thurmond said in a press release. “An excellent public education has the power to transform lives, and I commend the educators and school communities who have dedicated themselves to producing exemplary results.”
Orange County schools account for more than 10 percent of this year’s honorees.
“To have 42 schools in Orange County recognized at the state level speaks to the dedication of educators, students and families across our communities,” Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean said. “These campuses reflect what’s possible when strong instruction, support systems and high expectations come together.”
Last year, when elementary campuses were eligible, 44 schools in Orange County received the 2025 California Distinguished Schools designation.
Orange County’s 2026 honorees
Here are this year’s California Distinguished Schools from Orange County:
Lexington Junior High School, Anaheim Union High School District
Oxford Academy, Anaheim Union High School District
Brea Junior High School, Brea-Olinda Unified School District
Arroyo Vista Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District
Bernice Ayer Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District
Capistrano Valley High School, Capistrano Unified School District
Las Flores Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District
Marco Forster Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District
Tesoro High School, Capistrano Unified School District
Masuda Middle School, Fountain Valley School District
Sunny Hills High School, Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Troy High School, Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Bolsa Grande High School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Dr. Walter C. Ralston Intermediate School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Hilton D. Bell Intermediate School, Garden Grove Unified School District
James Irvine Intermediate School, Garden Grove Unified School District
La Quinta High School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Los Amigos High School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Pacifica High School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Santiago High School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Sarah McGarvin Intermediate School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Ethel Dwyer Middle School, Huntington Beach City School District
Westminster High School, Huntington Beach Union High School District
Irvine High School, Irvine Unified School District
Lakeside Middle School, Irvine Unified School District
Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, Irvine Unified School District
Sierra Vista Middle School, Irvine Unified School District
South Lake Middle School, Irvine Unified School District
Venado Middle School, Irvine Unified School District
Woodbridge High School, Irvine Unified School District
Thurston Middle School, Laguna Beach Unified School District
Early College High School, Newport-Mesa Unified School District
Oxford Preparatory Academy – Middle School, Orange County Board of Education
Samueli Academy, Orange County Board of Education
El Rancho Charter School, Orange Unified School District
Col. J. K. Tuffree Middle School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
La Paz Intermediate School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District
Douglas MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School, Santa Ana Unified School District
Hector G. Godinez Fundamental High School, Santa Ana Unified School District
Middle College High School, Santa Ana Unified School District
Hewes Middle School, Tustin Unified School District
Helen Stacey Middle School, Westminster School District
Recognizing academic excellence
The California Distinguished Schools program, established in 1985, alternates annually between elementary and secondary schools. Middle and high schools were eligible in 2026 and will next be considered again in 2028.
Campuses are recognized in one of three categories.
Exemplary High Achievers are among the highest-performing schools in the state for academic achievement while ensuring that historically underserved student groups maintain or increase progress.
Achievement Gap Closers are schools that accelerate academic growth for two or more historically underserved student groups while maintaining above-median performance overall.
A new category added this year, Beacons of Opportunity, recognizes schools serving rural and Title I communities that demonstrate very high performance across multiple student outcomes.
Eligibility is determined through metrics from the California School Dashboard. Schools must test at least 95 percent of students and may not qualify if they show concerning indicators such as very high suspension or chronic absenteeism rates.
All honorees will be recognized April 24 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.