2024 California Distinguished Schools: What OC Home Buyers Should Know

by Rick Lee

If you’re considering a move to Orange County and schools are part of your decision-making process, the 2024 California Distinguished Schools list is a valuable place to start your research. This year, over 40 middle and high schools in Orange County received statewide recognition for academic excellence and equity. Whether you’re buying your first home, upsizing, or relocating, understanding how schools are recognized and what public data is available can help guide your journey.

🏆 What Is the California Distinguished Schools Program?

The California Distinguished Schools Program is part of the California School Recognition Program, operated by the California Department of Education (CDE). It recognizes outstanding public middle and high schools that show exceptional academic achievement or success in closing achievement gaps.

For 2024, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced that 293 schools statewide earned this prestigious distinction. Awardees are selected using performance data from the 2023 California School Dashboard, a multiple-measure accountability system adopted by the California State Board of Education.

Schools are honored in two main categories:

•Exceptional Student Performance: Schools with strong academic outcomes, including high performance in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, graduation rates (for high schools), and reduced suspensions.

•Closing the Achievement Gap: Schools that serve 40% or more socioeconomically disadvantaged students and demonstrate accelerated progress for historically underserved student groups.

It’s important to understand that this program uses objective, state-reported data. It does not reflect opinions or rankings by private companies. As a REALTOR®, I do not recommend or rank schools—but I can help connect you with the resources to do your own research.

📍 Orange County’s Distinguished Schools in 2024

Orange County is home to a wide range of high-performing school districts, and this year, several stood out in the 2024 California Distinguished Schools Program. Over 40 schools across multiple districts were recognized. Among them, three cities had the highest number of awarded schools:

•Garden Grove – 9 schools recognized

•Tustin – 6 schools recognized

•Irvine – 5 schools recognized

Below is a breakdown of all recognized middle and high schools in Orange County for 2024:

🔹 Anaheim Union High School District

•Cypress High

•John F. Kennedy High

•Lexington Junior High

•Magnolia High

•Oxford Academy

🔹 Buena Park Elementary School District

•Buena Park Middle

🔹 Capistrano Unified School District

•Bernice Ayer Middle

•Carl Hankey Middle

•Esencia Middle

•Las Flores Middle

•Marco Forster Middle

•Niguel Hills Middle

🔹 Fountain Valley Elementary School District

•Kazuo Masuda Middle

🔹 Fullerton Joint Union High School District

•Fullerton Union High

•Sonora High

🔹 Garden Grove Unified School District

•Hilton D. Bell Intermediate

•Sarah McGarvin Intermediate

🔹 Huntington Beach City Elementary School District

•Ethel Dwyer Middle

🔹 Irvine Unified School District

•Jeffrey Trail Middle

•Northwood High

•South Lake Middle

•Venado Middle

🔹 Los Alamitos Unified School District

•Oak Middle

•Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle

🔹 Lowell Joint School District

•Rancho-Starbuck Intermediate

🔹 Newport-Mesa Unified School District

•Corona del Mar High

•Estancia High

🔹 Orange Unified School District

•Canyon High

•El Rancho Charter

•Santiago Middle

🔹 Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

•Kraemer Middle

🔹 Saddleback Valley Unified School District

•La Paz Intermediate

•Mission Viejo High

•Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate

🔹 Tustin Unified School District

•Legacy Magnet Academy

•Pioneer Middle

•Tustin High

🔹 Westminster School District

•Helen Stacey Middle

📊 Why This Information Matters for Home Buyers

Many buyers consider school data when evaluating communities—but it’s critical to understand that what makes a school “right” is different for every family. The California Distinguished Schools list is an objective, state-run recognition based on measurable academic and equity outcomes—not third-party rankings or personal opinions.

As a licensed REALTOR®, I cannot and do not recommend schools. However, I can:

•Provide links to public data sources like the California School Dashboard

•Help you understand where schools are geographically located

•Connect you with tools to compare districts and boundaries

•Offer guidance on how school zones interact with real estate options

Remember, only you can decide which school or neighborhood is right for your family based on your unique needs and values.

🔗 Where to Find the Full List

You can view the complete list of all 293 California Distinguished Schools for 2024 on the official CDE website:

➡️ California Distinguished Schools Program – Official CDE Link

You can also explore individual school dashboards here:

➡️ California School Dashboard

These tools are a great starting point for your research.

📞 Let’s Talk About Your Next Move

If you’re looking to buy a home in Orange County and want to make sure you have access to verified school data, neighborhood insights, and a no-pressure conversation about your real estate goals—I’d love to help.

📩 DM me “Distinguished” or reach out by phone to get the full school list and school zone map links.

Rick J. Lee

Realtor® @ ΓEA⅃ Broker

📱 (714) 943-1598

📧 rickjleehomes@gmail.com

DRE #02130981

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