29 LAUSD Schools Named California Distinguished Schools

LOS ANGELES, CA —29 LAUSD schools were awarded the prestigious California Distinguished School designation, which is awarded each year to a small percentage of public secondary schools around the state that demonstrate the highest achievements in academics and closing the achievement gap.

102 schools around California were notified of the award in March, and an additional 121 were given the award this week. The California State Board of Education awards the Distinguished School grants the award to schools with exceptional achievements in student academic performance and in closing the socioeconomic achievement gap.

“I am delighted to see the state recognize the progress being made at so many of our schools where extraordinary things are happening,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “We are grateful for the hard work of the administrators, educators and staff for helping our students get a great education.”

Schools do not typically apply for the award - instead, they are selected based on a number of criteria. Middle schools must include high rates of socioeconomic diversity, demonstrate high growth in English or math for disadvantaged students, low rates of suspension and chronic absenteeism, and high participation in English language arts and math.

High schools must achieve all of the criteria of middle schools, and score highly in college, career, and graduation indicators. See here for a more detailed list of considerations.

Normally, individual school data can be found online, but the Board of Education says that state law prohibits the reporting of state and local indicators on the 2020 Dashboard due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Congratulations to our California Distinguished Schools,” LAUSD Board President Kelly Gonez said in a statement. “Los Angeles Unified has such excellent schools throughout our District, and I celebrate the amazing educators, parents, and students for the hard work that has led to this well-deserved recognition.”

Here is a full list of 2021 Distinguished Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District:

1. Alliance Collins Family College-Ready High
2. Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex
3. Alliance Leichtman-Levin Family Foundation Environmental Science High
4. Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science
5. Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High
6. Alliance Tennenbaum Family Technology High
7. Downtown Business High
8. Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy
9. Ednovate- USC Hybrid High College Prep
10. Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High
11. Granada Hills Charter High
12. Grover Cleveland Charter High
13. High Tech LA
14. James Jordan Middle
15. John Marshall Senior High
16. KIPP Los Angeles College Preparatory
17. KIPP Sol Academy
18. Larchmont Charter
19. Libertas College Preparatory Charter
20. Linda Esperanza Marquez High Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine
21. Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
22. Math and Science College Preparatory
23. Math, Science & Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High
24. Orthopaedic Hospital
25. PUC Lakeview Charter High
26. Renaissance Arts Academy
27. Social Justice Leadership Academy at Esteban E. Torres High No. 5
28. STEM Academy at Bernstein High
29. Taft Charter High

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