State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Congratulates High-Performing Middle Schools Named 2024 Schools to Watch

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has announced that 52 high-performing California middle grades schools have been recognized as California Schools to Watch for 2024. To earn this designation, schools must complete an extensive application and host a site visit by middle grades experts. To retain the designation, each school is reevaluated every three years.

There are 16 new California Schools to Watch this year. An additional 36 schools reapplied to the program, demonstrated their sustained progress, and have been redesignated as 2024 California Schools to Watch. Altogether, there are 200 California Schools to Watch.

“Congratulations to these exceptional schools for making a great impact on students. I want to thank the staff, administrators, teachers, families at these schools for ensuring all students get the education they need to realize their potential,” Thurmond said. “These schools are outstanding examples of how educational innovation and a dedicated school community can close achievement gaps and keep students engaged and learning through a critical stage in their K–12 journey.”

Newly Designated 2024 California Schools to Watch

• Bret Harte Middle School, Hayward Unified School District, Alameda County
• Bud Carson Middle School, Hawthorne Elementary School District, Los Angeles County
• Cato Middle School, Bakersfield City School District, Kern County
• Cedarlane Academy, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Cesar Chavez Middle School, Lynwood Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Edgewood IB School, West Covina Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Fairgrove Academy, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Laguna Middle School, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, San Luis Obispo County
• Mesa Robles Middle School, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Mesa View Middle School, Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Rivera Middle Schools, El Rancho Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Vaca Peña Middle School, Vacaville Unified School District, Solano County
• Valinda School of Academics, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Walnut Grove Intermediate School, West Covina Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• William G. Jehue Middle School, Rialto Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Winton Middle School, Hayward Unified School District, Alameda County

Redesignated 2024 California Schools to Watch

• Atascadero Middle School, Atascadero Unified School District, San Luis Obispo County
• Bell Intermediate School, Garden Grove Unified School District, Orange County
• Bernice Ayer Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District, Orange County
• Calavera Hills Middle School, Carlsbad Unified School District, San Diego County
• Castaic Middle School, Castaic Union Elementary School District, Los Angeles County
• Clark Intermediate School, Clovis Unified School District, Fresno County
• De Anza Magnet School, El Centro Elementary School District, Imperial County
• De Anza Middle School, Ontario Montclair School District, San Bernardino County
• Enrique Camarena Jr. High School, Calexico Unified School District, Imperial County
• Fedde International Studies Academy, ABC Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Frank M. Wright Middle School, Imperial Unified School District, Imperial County
• Fruitvale Junior High School, Fruitvale Elementary School District, Kern County
• Golden Valley Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Granite Ridge Intermediate School, Clovis Unified School District, Fresno County
• Griffiths Middle School, Downey Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Hollydale Middle School, Paramount Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• John Burroughs Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Katherine L. Albiani Middle School, Elk Grove Unified School District, Sacramento County
• Kings Canyon Middle School, Fresno Unified School District, Fresno County
• Ladera Vista Junior High School of the Arts, Fullerton School District, Orange County
• Lakeside Middle School, Little Lake City School District, Los Angeles County
• Liberty Middle School, Lemoore Union Elementary School District, Kings County
• Live Oak Middle School, Live Oak Unified School District, Sutter County
• Los Osos Middle School, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, San Luis Obispo County
• Luther Burbank Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Mary R. Stauffer Middle School, Downey Unified School District, Los Angeles County
• Mountain View Middle School, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Riverside County
• Pioneer Middle School, Tustin Unified School District, Orange County
• San Marcos Middle School, San Marcos Unified School District, San Diego County
• Sequoia Middle School, Fontana Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Turlock Junior High School, Turlock School District, Stanislaus County
• Twentynine Palms Junior High School, Morongo Unified School District, San Bernardino County
• Union Middle School, Union Elementary School District, Santa Clara County
• Vanguard Preparatory School, Apple Valley School District, San Bernardino County
• Vina Danks Middle School, Ontario Montclair School District, San Bernardino County
• Woodrow Wilson Jr. High School, El Centro Elementary School District, Imperial County

The 2024 schools will be recognized at the California League of Educators Celebration and Conference in Monterey on March 8–9, 2024.

The California Schools to Watch program is supported by the California Department of Education, the California League of Educators , and the California Middle Grades Alliance in association with The National Forum .

The California Department of Education encourage schools to apply for 2025 recognition. For application instructions and more information on the program, please visit the California League of Educators Schools to Watch web page .

# # # #

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