State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2025 Civic Learning Award Schools

SACRAMENTO—Thirty-four California schools have been named recipients of the 2025 Civic Learning Awards, honoring and recognizing measurable schoolwide achievements in civics. The award program, now in its twelfth year, is co-sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero.

“When young people advocate and raise their voices, they have the power to drive meaningful change in their communities,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “Education is fundamental to achieving our democratic ideals, and these schools have played an exceptional role in shaping the leaders of the future.”

“I find these award applications truly inspiring—each one is deserving of recognition,” said Chief Justice Guerrero. “They highlight the powerful stories of committed educators who, despite the challenges, are finding creative ways to ensure students can fully engage with and understand civics.”

Since their inception in 2013, the awards have been presented more than 500 times to traditional, charter, and magnet schools. In recent years, community schools and continuation schools have submitted high-ranking applications. This year, a court school applied for the first time.

Applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of judges comprised of representatives from the California courts and the California Department of Education (CDE) who are not tied to counties or districts in the pool.

In addition to the information provided by the applicant, points are added for schools in districts with Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) that include terms and actions associated with civic learning. Applicants also earn points for participating in the Judges in the Classroom program and for creating processes and criteria related to the State Seal of Civic Engagement.

The top three honorees receiving the Civic Learning Award of Excellence and receiving a visit from Chief Justice Guerrero this fall are:

Elementary School: Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary

Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary earned the Award of Distinction in 2024
San Jose | Santa Clara County
Mount Pleasant Elementary School District, Superintendent Dr. Elida MacArthur

Middle School: Sparks Middle School

Award of Merit in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022; Honorable Mention in 2023, 2024
La Puente | Los Angeles County
Hacienda la Puente Unified School District, Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jimenez

High School: Norte Vista High School

Awards of Merit in 2022, 2023
Riverside | Riverside County
Alvord Unified School District, Superintendent Dr. Reginald Thompkins

NP3 Middle and High Schools in the Natomas Unified School District will receive Awards of Excellence Emeritus (they scored at the top last year and this year).

The following schools earned a Civic Learning Award of Distinction

Elementary School: Garfield Elementary School

Awards of Merit in 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023; Honorable Mention in 2024
Clovis | Fresno County
Clovis Unified School District

Middle School: August Boeger Middle School (Community School)

First time applying
San Jose | Santa Clara County
Mount Pleasant Elementary School District

High School: Anaheim High School

Awards of Merit in 2016, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024; Award of Distinction in 2022
Anaheim | Orange County
Anaheim Union High School District

The following schools earned a Civic Learning Award of Merit:

Elementary School: Emperor Elementary School

First time applying
San Gabriel | Los Angeles County
Temple City Unified School District

Middle School: Antioch Charter Academy II

Award of Distinction in 2017; Award of Merit in 2018
Antioch | Contra Costa County
Antioch Unified School District

High School: Norwalk High School

Awards of Merit in 2016, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024; Award of Distinction in 2022
Norwalk | Los Angeles County
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
Merit Award Emeritus: South Junior High School in the Anaheim Union High School District also received the Merit Award in 2024.

Honorable Mentions

Red Bank Elementary, Fresno County, Clovis Unified School District

Harold L. Woods Elementary, Fresno County, Clovis Unified School District

Maple Creek Elementary, Fresno County, Clovis Unified School District

Nelson Elementary, Los Angeles County, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District

Golden Charter Academy, Fresno County, Fresno Unified School District

Tarpey Elementary, Fresno County, Clovis Unified School District

Dry Creek Elementary, Fresno County, Clovis Unified School District

Pantera Elementary, Los Angeles County, Pomona Unified School District

Buena Terra Elementary, Orange County, Centralia Elementary School District

Wedgeworth Elementary, Los Angeles County, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District

Imogene Garner Hook Junior High School, San Bernardino County, Victor Valley Union High School District

Rancho Viejo Middle School, Riverside County, Hemet Unified School District

Lexington Junior High School, Orange County, Anaheim Union High School District

SOAR Academy High School, San Diego County, San Diego County Office of Education

Legacy Magnet Academy (High School), Orange County, Tustin Unified School District

Loara High School, Orange County, Anaheim Union High School District

Cordova High School, Sacramento County, Folsom-Cordova Unified School District

Edison High School, Fresno County, Fresno Unified School District

John H. Pitman High School, Stanislaus County, Turlock Unified School District

Cypress High School, Orange County, Anaheim Union High School District

Animo Pat Brown Charter High School, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Unified School District

The Civic Learning Awards began in 2013 and are part of the Chief Justice's Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative , which includes other programs such as Judges in the Classroom. More information is available on the CDE Civic Learning Award for California Public Schools web page.

Additional resources to support civic learning and engagement are available on the CDE Resources to Support Civic Engagement web page and the CDE State Seal of Civic Engagement web page.

# # # #

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