Thirty-one L.A. County Community Schools have been selected as 2026 California Distinguished Schools due to their outstanding academic achievement and commitment to student success.

The California Distinguished Schools Program is one of the highest honors awarded by the California Department of Education. Each year, the program recognizes schools in two prestigious categories: Closing the Achievement Gap and Exceptional Student Performance. This year, a third category, Beacons of Opportunity, was also introduced. 

The recognition highlights the significant impact of L.A. County’s efforts in supporting the implementation of the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). The CCSPP is an equity-driven school transformation strategy in which schools and districts work closely with students, families, teachers, and community partners to transform schools into authentic hubs of support for whole-child success.

With over 500 CCSPP-funded community schools in the County, LACOE’s Community Schools Initiative proudly provides technical assistance and implementation support to the largest concentration of community schools in the nation, made possible by California’s historic CCSPP investment of $4.1 billion.

The L.A. County honorees represent 6% of all community schools in the county. Each of these schools exemplifies the unwavering commitment of L.A. County educators, students, families and communities to transform schools into spaces of connection, inclusivity and empowerment through the CCSPP.

Access the full list of 2026 California Distinguished Schools on the CDE website.

List of 2026 California Distinguished Schools – Community Schools in L.A. County by Greater Los Angeles R-TAC Subregion

East Subregion: 

• Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle School
• Sussman (Edward A.) Middle School
• Ednovate - Esperanza College Prep
• Los Nietos Middle School
• Los Angeles Unified School District:
• Venice Senior High School

Metro Subregion:

• Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School
• Alliance Ted K. Tajima High School
• Alliance Leichtman-Levine Family Foundation Environmental Science High School
• Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science
• Alliance Susan and Eric Smidt Technology High School
• Magnolia Science Academy 6

San Fernando Valley Subregion:

• Magnolia Science Academy
• Valor Academy High School

South Subregion:

• Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High School
• Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High School
• Alliance Patti And Peter Neuwirth Leadership Academy
• Animo Jackie Robinson High School
• Animo Pat Brown
• Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy
• Compton Early College High
• Compton High School
• Dominguez High School
• Ednovate - USC Hybrid High College Prep
• ICEF View Park Preparatory High School

West and South Bay Subregion:

• ICEF Vista Middle Academy
• Magnolia Science Academy 4
• Animo Venice Charter High School
• Animo South Los Angeles Charter
• Hawthorne Math and Science Academy
• Jane Addams Middle School
• Will Rogers Middle School