News Release
News Release
March 6, 2019
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces
2019 Civic Learning Award Recipients
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 92 schools won this year’s Civic Learning Awards, which celebrate public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning. Now in its seventh year, the awards program is co-sponsored by Thurmond and Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.
These schools engage students in civic learning through unique classes, clubs, and programs preparing students for participation in democracy. The awards are designed to both celebrate successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and to identify successful models that can be replicated in other schools.
“Having had the chance to teach a civics class, and from my time working with students in the Legislature, I’m a huge supporter of engaging students in civics early, which helps to engage them for life,” said Thurmond. “It was fulfilling to work with students in the State Legislature, where every year I had students help write a bill with me. I would like to continue that work by asking students to share their ideas on new bills, such as keeping college affordable, school nutrition, and student housing.”
“I commend our schools and teachers for their creativity and commitment to civic education,” said Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye. “They are giving students the skills they will need as active participants and leaders in our democracy.”
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye visits schools receiving Awards of Excellence, the highest level, which include:
- Flora Vista Elementary School in San Diego County, where students develop budgets and proposals for the school board on how to conserve energy in the classroom, organize to decrease trash and debris on their campus, and find solutions to help children in Africa obtain clean drinking water.
- Lexington Junior High School in Orange County, where every eighth grader completes a project through which they learn about bias, study political propaganda, and participate in a mock election.
- Cypress High School in Orange County, where students research and present a TED-style talk on a public issue, such as the vaccine debate. To prepare, students gather and evaluate evidence on all sides, interact with the community, and analyze related policy.
In addition to the Awards of Excellence, six schools received Awards of Distinction, and 83 schools received Awards of Merit. Launched at the Civic Learning California Summit
in 2013, the awards have recognized more than 300 schools. More information on the Civic Education Initiative is on the CDE’s Civic Education web page.
Below is a full list of the 2019 Civic Learning Award recipients:
| Award | School | County |
|---|---|---|
Excellence |
Flora Vista Elementary School |
San Diego County |
Excellence |
Lexington Junior High School |
Orange County |
Excellence |
Cypress High School |
Orange County |
Distinction |
Willard Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Distinction |
La Costa Heights Elementary School |
San Diego County |
Distinction |
Santiago Charter Middle School |
Orange County |
Distinction |
South Junior High School |
Orange County |
Distinction |
Savanna High School |
Orange County |
Distinction |
Pacific High School |
San Bernardino County |
Merit |
Roses in Concrete Community School |
Alameda County |
Merit |
Amador High School |
Amador County |
Merit |
Pleasant Valley High School |
Butte County |
Merit |
Red Bank Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Cooper Academy |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Freedom Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Jefferson Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Tarpey Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Quail Lake Charter School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Oraze Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Cole Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Dailey Elementary Charter School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Garfield Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Kastner Intermediate School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Maple Creek Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Century Elementary School |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Virginia R. Boris Elementary |
Fresno County |
Merit |
Fortuna Middle School |
Humboldt County |
Merit |
Orangewood Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Sparks Middle School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Sunset Elementary and O.H. School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Culver City High School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Bellflower High School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Merlinda Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Monte Vista Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Merced Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Julia B. Morrison Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Vine Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Wescove Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
California Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Cameron Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Walnut Grove Intermediate School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Edgewood High School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Redondo Union High School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Ánimo Pat Brown Charter High School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Hollencrest Middle School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Wittmann Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Goddard Middle School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Los Angeles Senior High School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Evergreen Elementary School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Sierra Vista Middle School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Pomelo Community Charter School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Alhambra High School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
El Segundo High School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Carmenita Middle School |
Los Angeles County |
Merit |
Willits Charter School |
Mendocino County |
Merit |
Carmel High School |
Monterey County |
Merit |
Vista Verde Middle School |
Monterey County |
Merit |
Buena Vista Middle School |
Monterey County |
Merit |
Brookhurst Junior High School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Oxford Academy |
Orange County |
Merit |
George B. Miller Elementary School |
Orange County |
Merit |
John R. Peterson Elementary School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Walker Junior High School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Trabuco Mesa Elementary School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Dale Junior High School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Doig Intermediate School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Fairhaven Elementary School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Bolsa Grande High School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Santa Ana High School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Laguna Beach High School |
Orange County |
Merit |
Barbara Chilton Middle School |
Placer County |
Merit |
Carlin C. Coppin Elementary |
Placer County |
Merit |
James Madison Elementary |
Riverside County |
Merit |
Rio Americano High School |
Sacramento County |
Merit |
Anzar High School |
San Benito County |
Merit |
El Camino Elementary School |
San Bernardino County |
Merit |
Sultana Sports & Science Academy |
San Bernardino County |
Merit |
Colony High School |
San Bernardino County |
Merit |
Vanguard Leadership Academy |
San Bernardino County |
Merit |
Rancho Buena Vista High School |
San Diego County |
Merit |
Crawford High School |
San Diego County |
Merit |
De Portola Middle School |
San Diego County |
Merit |
Del Lago Academy, Campus of Applied Sciences |
San Diego County |
Merit |
Liberty Charter High School |
San Diego County |
Merit |
Kairos Public Schools Vacaville Academy |
Solano County |
Merit |
Joseph A. Gregori High School |
Stanislaus County |
Merit |
Royal High School |
Ventura County |
Merit |
Hollow Hills Fundamental School |
Ventura County |
Merit |
Madera Elementary School |
Ventura County |
Merit |
Adolfo Camarillo High School |
Ventura County |
Merit |
Sinaloa Middle School |
Ventura County |
# # # #
Tony Thurmond —
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100