SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) today announced that 58 charter public schools have been recognized by the California Department of Education as 2024 CA Distinguished Schools.
The CA Distinguished Schools Award honors exceptional schools that are closing the achievement gap and demonstrating exceptional student performance. Since its inception, the Distinguished Schools Award remains one of the state’s most important ways to celebrate public schools, educators, and employees for their innovation, talent and success in supporting students.
This year, 10 more charter public schools have been recognized as exemplary public schools as compared to last year.
“CCSA congratulates the 58 exemplary charter public schools that are working incredibly hard, defying the odds, and finding solutions to advance the academic excellence of each and every student they serve,” said Myrna Castrejón, CCSA President and CEO. “Every year, more and more charter public schools are awarded the prestigious title as a Distinguished School, which underscores the critical need for California to offer as many high-quality educational options to families, as well as understand the myriad of ways that charters are improving teaching and learning for children in the K-12 system, especially those who come from underserved communities. We are deeply grateful to these schools’ leadership and for transforming the lives of children and producing a new generation of scholars.”
The California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes elementary, middle, and high schools in alternate years. This year, the CDE is recognizing middle and high schools.
The schools are selected by analyzing data reported through the California School Dashboard, including assessment results, chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, and socioeconomic data.
“This year’s California Distinguished Schools celebration provides us with an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our secondary educators and school staff who help our young adults discover passions and access college- and career-ready experiences that will propel them through life,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond in a news release.
The charter public schools that received the 2024 CA Distinguished Schools Award are:
Northern California
· Inspire School of Arts and Sciences (Chico)
· Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts (Marysville)
· Twin Hills Charter Middle (Sebastopol)
· University Preparatory (Redding)
Bay Area
· AIMS College Prep High (Oakland)
· Downtown Charter Academy (Oakland)
· Gateway High (San Francisco)
· KIPP Heritage Academy (San Jose)
· KIPP Summit Academy (San Lorenzo)
· Luis Valdez Leadership Academy (San Jose)
Central Valley
· Harmony Magnet Academy (Strathmore)
· Health Careers Academy (Stockton)
· Reedley Middle College High (Reedley)
· Sherman Thomas STEM Academy (Madera)
· Stockton Early College Academy (Stockton)
Greater Los Angeles
· Alfred B. Nobel Charter Middle (Northridge)
· Alliance Collins Family College-Ready High (Huntington Park)
· Alliance Jack H. Skirball Middle (Los Angeles)
· Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High (Los Angeles)
· Alliance Leichtman-Levine Family Foundation Environmental Science High (Los Angeles)
· Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High (Huntington Park)
· Alliance Patti And Peter Neuwirth Leadership Academy (Los Angeles)
· Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle (Los Angeles)
· Animo Inglewood Charter High (Inglewood)
· Animo Jackie Robinson High (Los Angeles)
· Animo Leadership High (Inglewood)
· Birmingham Community Charter High (Van Nuys)
· Camino Nuevo High #2 (Los Angeles)
· Central City Value (Los Angeles)
· Da Vinci Science (El Segundo)
· Ednovate - Brio College Prep (Los Angeles)
· Ednovate - East College Prep (Los Angeles)
· Ednovate - Esperanza College Prep (Los Angeles)
· Environmental Charter High (Lawndale)
· Equitas Academy #2 (Los Angeles)
· Equitas Academy 4 (Los Angeles)
· Gaspar De Portola Charter Middle (Tarzana)
· Grover Cleveland Charter High (Reseda)
· ICEF Vista Middle Academy (Los Angeles)
· Lennox Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy (Inglewood)
· Magnolia Science Academy 2 (Van Nuys)
· Math and Science College Preparatory (Los Angeles)
· Port of Los Angeles High (San Pedro)
· PUC Lakeview Charter Academy (Lakeview Terrace)
· PUC Triumph Charter Academy and PUC Triumph Charter High
· Taft Charter High (Woodland Hills)
· Ted K. Tajima High (Los Angeles)
· Vox Collegiate of Los Angeles (Sylmar)
· Wilder's Preparatory Academy Charter Middle (Inglewood)
· WISH Academy High (Los Angeles)
Riverside County
· Western Center Academy (Hemet)
Orange County
· El Rancho Charter School (Anaheim)
· Santiago Charter Middle School (Orange)
San Diego County
· High Tech High (San Diego)
· High Tech Middle North County (San Marcos)
· KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy (San Diego)
· Magnolia Science Academy (San Diego)
· School for Entrepreneurship and Technology (San Diego)
Media interested in interviews or campus visits at any of the charter public schools named as 2024 CA Distinguished Schools can email press@ccsa.org.
About the California Charter Schools Association
The vision of the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) is to build great public schools of joy and rigor that prepare all California students for success in college, career, community, and life. The mission of CCSA is to meet parent, educator, and community need for great public school options by supporting and advocating for high quality non-profit charter schools and sharing their success throughout California’s public schools. Learn more.
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