State Superintendent Tony Thurmond has unveiled the names of 293 middle schools and high schools selected for the prestigious 2024 California Distinguished Schools Program.

Among them, Los Angeles County shines with 104 schools earning distinction, including the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s International Polytechnical High School and the County Board authorized charter Magnolia Science Academy 2. Los Angeles County stands out with its impressive presence, boasting schools from 33 diverse districts.  

“This achievement underscores the commitment to excellence and the collaborative spirit that define our schools, where educators, students, parents, and administrators work hand in hand to foster an environment of learning, growth and achievement,” said Dr. Debra Duardo, Superintendent of the Los Angeles County of Schools. “Together, they have demonstrated that with determination, passion, and a shared vision for success, there are no limits to what we can achieve. Congratulations!”

2024 California Distinguished Schools in Los Angeles County:

• ABC Unified, Cerritos High 

• ABC Unified, Gahr (Richard) High 

• ABC Unified, Tetzlaff (Martin B.) Middle 

• ABC Unified, Whitney (Gretchen) High 

• Alhambra Unified, Mark Keppel High 

• Antelope Valley Union High, SOAR High (Students On Academic Rise) 

• Arcadia Unified, First Avenue Middle 

• Bonita Unified, Ramona Middle 

• Compton Unified, Bunche Middle 

• Compton Unified, Compton Early College High 

• Compton Unified, Davis Middle 

• Compton Unified, Whaley Middle 

• Compton Unified, Willowbrook Middle 

• Covina-Valley Unified, Covina High 

• Covina-Valley Unified, Las Palmas Middle 

• Downey Unified, Doty (Wendy Lopour) Middle 

• El Monte Union High, Arroyo High 

• Glendale Unified, Anderson W. Clark Magnet High 

• Glendale Unified, Eleanor J. Toll Middle 

• Glendora Unified, Sandburg Middle 

• Hacienda la Puente Unified, Glen A. Wilson High 

• Inglewood Unified, Animo Inglewood Charter High 

• Inglewood Unified, Wilder's Preparatory Academy Charter Middle 

• Lawndale Elementary, Environmental Charter High - Lawndale 

• Lennox, Animo Leadership High 

• Lennox, "Lennox Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy"

• Long Beach Unified, California Academy of Mathematics and Science 

• Long Beach Unified, Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science 

• Long Beach Unified, Stanford Middle 

• Long Beach Unified, Stephens Middle 

• Los Angeles County Office of Education, International Polytechnic High 

• Los Angeles County Office of Education, Magnolia Science Academy 2 

• Los Angeles Unified, Abraham Lincoln Senior High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle 

• Los Angeles Unified, Alliance Collins Family College-Ready High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Alliance Jack H. Skirball Middle 

• Los Angeles Unified, Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Alliance Leichtman-Levine Family Foundation Environmental Science High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Alliance Patti And Peter Neuwirth Leadership Academy

• Los Angeles Unified, Alliance Ted K. Tajima High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle 

• Los Angeles Unified, Animo Jackie Robinson High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Birmingham Community Charter High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Camino Nuevo High #2 

• Los Angeles Unified, Central City Value 

• Los Angeles Unified, Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academies-Arts/Theatre/Entertain Mag 

• Los Angeles Unified, Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy 

• Los Angeles Unified, Eagle Rock High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Early College Academy-LA Trade Tech College 

• Los Angeles Unified, East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy at Esteban E. Torres High No. 2

• Los Angeles Unified, Ednovate - Brio College Prep

• Los Angeles Unified, Ednovate - East College Prep 

• Los Angeles Unified, Ednovate - Esperanza College Prep 

• Los Angeles Unified, Equitas Academy #2 

• Los Angeles Unified, Equitas Academy 4 

• Los Angeles Unified, Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Gaspar De Portola Charter Middle 

• Los Angeles Unified, "Girls Academic Leadership Academy, Dr. Michelle King School for Sci, Tech, Eng and Math"

• Los Angeles Unified, Grover Cleveland Charter High 

• Los Angeles Unified, "Hilda L. Solis Learning Academy School of Technology, Business and Education"

• Los Angeles Unified, ICEF Vista Middle Academy 

• Los Angeles Unified, King/Drew Medical Magnet High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies 

• Los Angeles Unified, Math and Science College Preparatory 

• Los Angeles Unified, "Math, Science, & Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High"

• Los Angeles Unified, Northridge Academy High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle 

• Los Angeles Unified, Orthopaedic Hospital 

• Los Angeles Unified, Phineas Banning Senior High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Port of Los Angeles High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Public Service Community at Diego Rivera Learning Complex 

• Los Angeles Unified, PUC Lakeview Charter Academy 

• Los Angeles Unified, PUC Triumph Charter Academy and PUC Triumph Charter High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Robert Frost Middle 

• Los Angeles Unified, Rudecinda Sepulveda Dodson Middle 

• Los Angeles Unified, Sylmar Biotech Health and Engineering Magnet 

• Los Angeles Unified, Taft Charter High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Verdugo Hills Senior High 

• Los Angeles Unified, Vox Collegiate of Los Angeles 

• Los Angeles Unified, Walter Reed Middle 

• Los Angeles Unified, "Washington Irving Middle School Math, Music and Engineering Magnet"

• Los Angeles Unified, WISH Academy High 

• Los Nietos, Los Nietos Middle 

• Monrovia Unified, Clifton Middle 

• Montebello Unified, Macy Intermediate 

• Norwalk-La Mirada Unified, Arlie F. Hutchinson Middle 

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified, Palos Verdes Intermediate 

• Pasadena Unified, Sierra Madre Middle 

• Rowland Unified, Giano Intermediate 

• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, John Adams Middle 

• South Pasadena Unified, South Pasadena Middle 

• Torrance Unified, Casimir Middle 

• Torrance Unified, Edward J. Richardson Middle 

• Torrance Unified, Jefferson Middle 

• Torrance Unified, South High 

• Walnut Valley Unified, Chaparral Middle 

• West Covina Unified, Hollencrest Middle 

• West Covina Unified, Mt. SAC Early College Academy at West Covina

• West Covina Unified, Walnut Grove Intermediate 

• Whittier City Elementary, Katherine Edwards Middle School STEAM & Dual Immersion Academy 

• William S. Hart Union High, Rancho Pico Junior High 

• William S. Hart Union High, Rio Norte Junior High 

• Wiseburn Unified, Da Vinci Science

The selection process involves a rigorous evaluation based on academic achievement, school climate, and efforts to address achievement gaps. Exceptional student performance is a central criterion, with schools required to demonstrate exemplary achievements in English Language Arts (ELA) and math, alongside notable reductions in suspensions and high graduation rates for high schools.

This remarkable achievement underscores the dedication of educators and staff in Los Angeles County to provide exemplary public education to all students. State Superintendent Thurmond commended the selected schools for their commitment to excellence, emphasizing the crucial role played by outstanding middle schools and high schools in shaping the life outcomes of young people.

The honored schools will be recognized at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 3, 2024, alongside other distinguished schools and programs. This event celebrates the dedication of educators and staff who guide students toward success.

The California Distinguished Schools Program, an annual initiative by the California Department of Education, underscores the state's commitment to fostering educational excellence and ensuring the success of all students.

For more information visit the California Distinguished Schools Program web page.