5 Sacramento County schools earn Distinguished Schools honors. See the list

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced a list of 408 middle and high schools selected as 2026 California Distinguished Schools Program honorees.

The program celebrates schools that are able to “move the needle” on student achievement, the department said in a news release.

“An excellent public education has the power to transform lives, and I commend the educators and school communities who have dedicated themselves to producing exemplary results,” Thurmond said in a statement.

What is the Distinguished Schools Program?

The recognition program “aims to recognize exemplary instructional programs throughout California public schools,” the department said.

It has three award categories: exemplary high achievers, achievement gap closers and beacons of opportunity.

Schools recognized as exemplary high achievers both attain academic achievement and also ensure historically underserved student groups are maintaining or increasing academic progress, according to the California Department of Education.

Achievement gap closers accelerate academic progress for two or more groups of students that have been historically underserved. They also demonstrate “achievement for all students that is above the state median.”

New this year is the department’s “beacons of opportunity” recognition category. The California Department of Education said it recognizes schools serving rural and Title I communities with “multiple student outcomes at very high performance.”

Middle and high schools are recognized every other year. In the alternate years, the department recognizes elementary schools and kindergarten through eighth grade schools. And schools are automatically considered the years they are eligible.

The program was launched in 1985. The 2026 California Distinguished Schools, along with 2025 California Blue Ribbon Schools, 2026 Green Achievers, 2026 Exemplary Dual Enrollment Award Schools, and 2025 Civic Learning Awards of Excellence will be recognized at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on April 24, the department said in a news release.

What Sacramento County schools were recognized this year?

Five Sacramento County schools were recognized as part of the 2026 California Distinguished Schools Program.

• Toby Johnson Middle
• Robert L. McCaffrey Middle
• Liberty Ranch High
• West Campus
• Winston Churchill Middle

What schools from surrounding counties were recognized?

Nearly two dozen schools from El Dorado, Placer, San Joaquin, Yolo and Yuba counties were also recognized as part of the 2026 California Distinguished Schools Program.

El Dorado County:

• Camerado Springs Middle
• Rolling Hills Middle
• Miller’s Hill
• Marina Village Middle

Placer County:

• Placer High
• Granite Oaks Middle
• Rocklin High
• Western Sierra Collegiate Academy
• Warren T. Eich Middle
• Antelope High
• Alder Creek Middle
• North Tahoe High

San Joaquin County:

• Aspire Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy
• Manteca High
• Sierra High
• Health Careers Academy
• Stockton Early College Academy
• Merrill F. West High
• Millennium Charter

Yolo County:

• Washington Middle College High

Yuba County:

• Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts

The California Department of Education shared the full list of honorees on its website.

This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 11:45 AM.