Six San Mateo County Middle and High Schools Receive a 2026 California Distinguished Schools Award

Six schools from five school districts in San Mateo County received a 2026 California Distinguished School Award from the California Department of Education for their progress in supporting student success.

The California Distinguished School Award program honors schools that performed well on several State indicators displayed on the 2025 California School Dashboard, such as suspension rate, chronic absenteeism, and student performance in English/Language Arts and Mathematics. The State alternates between honoring elementary schools and middle and high schools, with awardees holding their title for two years.

This year, the program honored 408 middle and high schools statewide that made progress in closing the achievement gap and demonstrating exceptional student performance. These schools were selected by their ability to demonstrate excellence and growth in academic achievement and ensure a positive school climate.

"We are very fortunate in San Mateo County to have school leadership that is dedicated to fostering safe, supportive, and positive learning environments, especially those who have faced persistent achievement gaps,” said Marco Chávez, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools. “These exemplary middle and high schools give me hope for our students as they prepare for adulthood."

The 2026 San Mateo County awardees, listed below, will be recognized at a future San Mateo County Board of Education meeting. To view a list of all 2026 California Distinguished Schools, please visit the California Department of Education’s website.

• Hillsborough City Elementary – Crocker Middle School
• Jefferson Union High School – Summit Public School: Shasta 
• Portola Valley Elementary School – Corte Madera 
• San Carlos Elementary School – Central Middle School
• San Carlos Elementary School – Tierra Linda Middle School
• South San Francisco Unified – El Camino High School