State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2024 California Purple Star Schools

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 44 schools have been designated as 2024 Purple Star Schools. Now in its third year, the California Purple Star School Designation Program recognizes schools that are committed and equipped to meet the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.

“I commend the remarkable dedication and support shown by the winning schools of the California Purple Star School Designation Program. By embracing and enhancing services for military-connected students and their families, these schools exemplify our commitment to inclusivity, understanding, and excellence in education,” Thurmond said. “Their efforts not only enrich the educational experience but also foster a sense of belonging and appreciation for our military community.”

Purple Star Schools seek to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by providing the most critical transition supports. With more than 2.6 million active-duty service members and individuals serving in the National Guard and Reserves, the military is one of the United States’ largest workforces. In 2022, California had 242,624 active-duty service members and individuals serving in the National Guard and Reserves.

Military-connected students must move whenever their active-duty parent or guardian receives a relocation order. These required relocations mean that a military-connected child can expect to change schools between six and nine times from grades K–12, which is three times more often than non-military-connected children. As military-connected students transition between schools—often to different states and countries—they must adapt to varying cultures, school populations, curricula, standards, course offerings, schedules, and graduation requirements. As a result, military-connected students often face unique academic and social-emotional challenges and struggle to stay on track to be college- and career-ready.

2024 Purple Star Schools

Kern County

• Sierra Sands Unified School District, Richmond Elementary

Los Angeles County

• Wiseburn Unified, Da Vinci Communications
• Wiseburn Unified, Da Vinci Design
• Wiseburn Unified, Da Vinci Science

Monterey County

• Monterey Peninsula Unified, George C. Marshall Elementary
• Monterey Peninsula Unified, La Mesa
• Monterey Peninsula Unified, Monte Vista

Orange County

• Los Alamitos Unified, J. H. McGaugh Elementary

Riverside County

• Murrieta Valley Unified, Lisa J. Mails Elementary
• Murrieta Valley Unified, Shivela Middle
• Murrieta Valley Unified, Vista Murrieta High
• Murrieta Valley Unified, Warm Springs Middle

San Bernardino County

• Lucerne Valley Unified, Elite Academic Academy – Lucerne
• Silver Valley Unified, Newberry Springs Elementary
• Silver Valley Unified, Silver Valley High

San Diego County

• Bonsall Unified, Bonsall Elementary
• Bonsall Unified, Bonsall High
• Bonsall Unified, Bonsall West Elementary
• Bonsall Unified, Norman L. Sullivan Middle
• Bonsall Unified, Vivian Banks Charter
• Chula Vista Elementary, McMillin (Corky) Elementary
• Fallbrook Union Elementary, Fallbrook STEM Academy
• Fallbrook Union Elementary, James E. Potter Intermediate
• Fallbrook Union Elementary, Live Oak Elementary
• Fallbrook Union Elementary, Maie Ellis Elementary
• Fallbrook Union Elementary, Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary
• Fallbrook Union Elementary, William H. Frazier Elementary
• Oceanside Unified, North Terrace Elementary
• Oceanside Unified, Oceanside High
• Oceanside Unified, Stuart Mesa Elementary
• Poway Unified, Bernardo Heights Middle
• San Diego Unified, De Portola Middle
• San Diego Unified, Hickman Elementary
• San Diego Unified, Jones Elementary
• San Diego Unified, Perry Elementary
• San Diego Unified, Vista Grande Elementary
• San Diego Unified, Walker Elementary

Solano County

• Fairfield-Suisun Unified, Angelo Rodriguez High
• Fairfield-Suisun Unified, Cordelia Hills Elementary
• Fairfield-Suisun Unified, Green Valley Middle
• Fairfield-Suisun Unified, Laurel Creek Elementary
• Fairfield-Suisun Unified, Sullivan Language Immersion Academy

Ventura County

• Pleasant Valley, Rancho Rosal Elementary

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100