The California Department of Education recognized 42 Orange County middle and high schools this year as California Distinguished Schools, the campuses representing more than 10% of the total 408 state honorees selected for the prestigious designation.

The annual California Distinguished Schools program, established by the state’s Department of Education in 1985, awards schools at the top of the state in terms of academic achievement for all students, including historically underserved students; those that accelerate academic progress for at least two historically underserved groups while still maintaining or increasing academic performance for all students; and those with high student performance levels that serve rural or Title 1 communities.

“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,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. “This year’s California Distinguished Schools represent the hard work of our middle and high school educators and school staff, who provide our secondary students with life-changing educational opportunities.”

The schools will be honored at a ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on April 24.

Here are the 42 Orange County schools that nabbed the title:

• Arroyo Vista Middle

• Bernice Ayer Middle

• Bolsa Grande High

• Brea Junior High

• Capistrano Valley High

• Col. J. K. Tuffree Middle

• Douglas MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate

• Dr. Walter C. Ralston Intermediate

• Early College High

• El Rancho Charter

• Ethel Dwyer Middle

• Hector G. Godinez

• Helen Stacey Middle

• Hewes Middle

• Hilton D. Bell Intermediate

• Irvine High

• James Irvine Intermediate

• La Paz Intermediate

• La Quinta High

• Lakeside Middle

• Las Flores Middle

• Lexington Junior High

• Los Amigos High

• Marco Forster Middle

• Masuda (Kazuo) Middle

• Middle College High

• Oxford Academy

• Oxford Preparatory Academy – Middle

• Pacifica High

• Rancho San Joaquin Middle

• Samueli Academy

• Santiago High

• Sarah McGarvin Intermediate

• Sierra Vista Middle

• South Lake Middle

• Sunny Hills High

• Tesoro High

• Thurston Middle

• Troy High

• Venado Middle

• Westminster High

• Woodbridge High