Soar High School among 2026 California Distinguished Schools Program

Downey, CA — The California Department of Education (CDE) has selected 152 middle schools and high schools from Los Angeles County as 2026 California Distinguished Schools, part of a statewide recognition of 408 exemplary schools demonstrating outstanding academic achievement and commitment to student success.  

Among the honorees are the International Polytechnic High School, operated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, and Magnolia Science Academy 5, authorized by the Los Angeles County Board of Education. Both schools are recognized for their innovation and success in supporting student achievements. 

The California Distinguished Schools Program annually honors schools in two prestigious categories: Closing the Achievement Gap and Exceptional Student Performance. This year, a third category was introduced: Beacons of Opportunity. The 2026 honorees showcase the remarkable dedication of educators, students and communities in driving educational excellence. 

“So many of our L.A. County schools shine as the brightest examples of excellence in California's educational landscape," said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. "This recognition is a celebration of the unwavering dedication of our teachers, administrators and parents, whose teamwork builds nurturing environments where every student can succeed. These outstanding schools have shown exceptional commitment to academic achievement, uplifting our community and inspiring students to reach their fullest potential.” 

Eligibility for all categories is determined by metrics generated through the California statewide accountability system for public schools, the California School Dashboard. The 2026 California Distinguished Schools were determined using data from the 2025 California School Dashboard. 

The 2026 California Distinguished Schools, along with 2025 California Blue Ribbon Schools, 2025 Civic Learning Award Schools, and 2025 Green Ribbon Schools Green Achievers will be honored in a special ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on April 24, 2026.

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

2026 California Distinguished Schools – L.A. County 

ABC Unified  

• Cerritos High School 

• Whitney (Gretchen) High School 

Antelope Valley Union High 

• SOAR High School(Students On Academic Rise)  

Arcadia Unified 

• Foothills Middle School 

Beverly Hills Unified 

• Beverly Vista Middle School 

Bonita Unified 

• Lone Hill Middle School 

• Ramona Middle School 

Burbank Unified 

• John Muir Middle School 

Castaic Union 

• Castaic Middle School 

Claremont Unified 

• El Roble Intermediate School 

Compton Unified  

• Compton Early College High School 

• Compton High School 

• Davis Middle School 

• Manuel Dominguez High School 

• Whaley Middle School 

Covina-Valley Unified  

• South Hills High School 

Downey Unified  

• Doty (Wendy Lopour) Middle School 

• Griffiths (Gordon) Middle School 

• Sussman (Edward A.) Middle School 

Duarte Unified 

• California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley  

El Monte Union High 

• El Monte High School 

El Segundo Unified 

• El Segundo High School 

• El Segundo Middle School 

Garvey Elementary 

• Temple (Roger W.) Intermediate School 

Glendale Unified 

• Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School 

• Eleanor J. Toll Middle School 

• Woodrow Wilson Middle School 

• Glendora High School 

• Goddard Middle School 

• Sandburg Middle School 

Hawthorne 

• Hawthorne Math and Science Academy  

Inglewood Unified 

• City Honors International Preparatory High School 

Lawndale Elementary 

• Environmental Charter High School - Lawndale  

• Jane Addams Middle School 

• Will Rogers Middle School 

Lennox 

• Lennox Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy  

Long Beach Unified 

• California Academy of Mathematics and Science  

• Ernest S. McBride, Sr. High School 

• Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science  

• Helen Keller Middle School 

• Millikan High School 

• Stanford Middle School 

Los Angeles County Office of Education 

• International Polytechnic High School 

• Magnolia Science Academy 5  

Los Angeles Unified 

• Academy of Medical Arts at Carson High  

• Alexander Fleming Middle School 

• Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School 

• Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High School 

• Alliance Leichtman-Levine Family Foundation Environmental Science High School 

• Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science  

• Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High School 

• Alliance Patti And Peter Neuwirth Leadership Academy  

• Alliance Susan and Eric Smidt Technology High School 

• Alliance Ted K. Tajima High School 

• Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle School 

• Animo Jackie Robinson High School 

• Animo Pat Brown  

• Animo South Los Angeles Charter School 

• Animo Venice Charter High School 

• Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy  

• Bell Senior High School 

• Carson Senior High School 

• CATCH Prep Charter High School, Inc.  

• Central City Value  

• Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academies-Social Justice Humanitas Academy  

• Downtown Business High School 

• Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy  

• Eagle Rock High School 

• Early College Academy-LA Trade Tech College  

• Ednovate - Esperanza College Prep  

• Ednovate - USC Hybrid High School College Prep  

• Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School 

• Gaspar De Portola Charter Middle School 

• George Ellery Hale Charter Academy  

• George K. Porter Middle School 

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

• Hollywood Senior High School 

• Humanities and Arts (HARTS) Academy of Los Angeles  

• ICEF View Park Preparatory High School 

• ICEF Vista Middle Academy School 

• International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School Complex  

• John Burroughs Middle School 

• John F. Kennedy High School 

• John Marshall Senior High School 

• King/Drew Medical Magnet High School 

• Linda Esperanza Marquez High School A Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine  

• Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies  

• Luther Burbank Middle School Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math Magnet  

• Magnolia Science Academy 4  

• Magnolia Science Academy 6  

• Mark Twain Middle School 

• Math, Science, & Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High School 

• Maywood Center for Enriched Studies  

• Middle College High School 

• Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School 

• Orthopaedic Hospital School 

• Patrick Henry Middle School 

• Port of Los Angeles High School 

• PUC Community Charter Middle and PUC Community Charter Early College High School 

• PUC Lakeview Charter High School 

• PUC Triumph Charter Academy and PUC Triumph Charter High School 

• Robert Frost Middle School 

• San Pedro Senior High School 

• Science Academy STEM Magnet  

• Sotomayor Arts and Sciences Magnet  

• South East High School 

• STEM Academy at Bernstein High School 

• Sylmar Biotech Health and Engineering Magnet  

• Synergy Kinetic Academy  

• Taft Charter High School 

• Ulysses S. Grant Senior High School 

• University Pathways Public Service Academy  

• Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences  

• Valor Academy High School 

• Venice Senior High School 

• Washington Irving Middle School Math, Music and Engineering Magnet  

• WISH Academy High School 

Los Nietos 

• Los Nietos Middle School 

Norwalk-La Mirada Unified 

• Arlie F. Hutchinson Middle School 

• Norwalk High School 

• Reginald M. Benton Middle School 

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified 

• Palos Verdes Intermediate School 

• Ridgecrest Intermediate School 

Redondo Beach Unified 

• Adams Middle School 

San Gabriel Unified 

• Gabrielino High School 

San Marino Unified 

• Huntington Middle School 

• San Marino High School 

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified 

• John Adams Middle School 

South Pasadena Unified 

• South Pasadena Middle School 

Temple City Unified 

• Oak Avenue Intermediate School 

Torrance Unified 

• Calle Mayor Middle School 

• Casimir Middle School 

• Edward J. Richardson Middle School 

• Jefferson Middle School 

• Philip Magruder Middle School 

• Torrance High School 

• West High School 

Walnut Valley Unified 

• Chaparral Middle School 

• Diamond Bar High School 

• South Pointe Middle School 

• Suzanne Middle School 

• Walnut High School 

West Covina Unified 

• Edgewood High School 

• Hollencrest Middle School 

• Mt. SAC Early College Academy at West Covina  

William S. Hart Union High 

• Academy of the Canyons  

• Canyon High School 

• Castaic High School 

• La Mesa Junior High School 

• Saugus High School 

• West Ranch High School 

Wiseburn Unified 

• Da Vinci Science