California Distinguished School

Award given to public schools in California

California Distinguished School is an award given by the California State Board of Education to public schools within the state that best represent exemplary and quality educational programs. Approximately 5 10% of California schools are awarded this honor each year following a selection process. It is one of many programs in the California School Recognition Program (CSRP) and is funded by CSRP sponsors.

The program was established in 1985 and alternates each year between elementary (even years) and secondary (odd years) schools. In the past, schools that were recognized as distinguished held the title for four years. Currently, schools that are recognized as distinguished hold the title for two years, and after that the recognition may be renewed. Eligibility criteria are subject to change between award cycles.

For 2020, the California Distinguished Schools Program will use the accountability metrics compiled on the public California School Dashboard. The Dashboard is a website available to the public and geared toward parents and non educators. The California Department of Education states “The Dashboard is a key component of California’s five year overhaul of the state’s school accountability system.” The Dashboard is not just an interface, but relevant to award criteria because it “replaces the state’s former accountability system—the Academic Performance Index (API), which relied exclusively on standardized tests and gave schools a single score. That system was suspended (in 2014).”

Details about the California Distinguished Schools application are issued from the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (Tony Thurmond) and disclosed to School Principals, County and District Superintendents, and Charter School Administrators. Schools communicate with their County Coordinator for the California School Recognition Program to submit the application.

Awardees will fall into two categories: “Closing the Achievement Gap,” and “Exceptional Student Performance.”

The California Distinguished Schools Program receives funding from California School Recognition Program Sponsors.