Early College High School Lauded As CA Distinguished School

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Early College High School is one of just 11 Orange County schools and 102 middle and high schools in California to receive the honor this year. The Newport Mesa Unified School District school has also been recognized as a California Honor Roll School (2015-2020) and received various Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS) accolades (2017-2020).

Principal Dr. Dave Martinez spoke on what it means to be named one of the 11 Orange County Distinguished Schools.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our school's commitment to academic achievement and a positive school experience that prepares them for their future endeavors," Martinez said.

California Distinguished Schools are recognized for excellent work in either closing the
achievement gap or achieving exceptional student performance, State Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tony Thurmond stated.

Schools are identified by the California Department of Education each year based on
performance and their progress on state indicators including test scores, suspension rates,
conditions and climate. The indicators are specified on the California School Dashboard, an
accountability and continuous improvement system.

The awards are sponsored by the California Department of Education and presented by California Casualty.

In Orange County, the following schools were named as Distinguished Schools for 2021:

• Anaheim Union High, John F. Kennedy High
• Anaheim Union High, Oxford Academy
• Capistrano Unified, Aliso Niguel High
• Capistrano Unified, Ladera Ranch Middle
• Fullerton Elementary, D. Russell Parks Junior High
• Fullerton Joint Union High, Troy High
• Garden Grove Unified, Hilton D. Bell Intermediate
• Garden Grove Unified, James Irvine Intermediate
• Garden Grove Unified, La Quinta High
• Garden Grove Unified, Sarah McGarvin Intermediate
• Irvine Unified, Lakeside Middle
• Irvine Unified, Northwood High
• Irvine Unified, University High
• Los Alamitos Unified, Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle
• Newport-Mesa Unified, Early College High
• Ocean View, Vista View Middle
• Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, Col. J. K. Tuffree Middle
• Placentia-Yorba Linda Unifie, Kraemer Middle
• Santa Ana Unified, Middle College High
• Tustin Unified, Arnold O. Beckman High
• Westminster, Helen Stacey Middle

“These schools are great examples of California’s commitment to provide outstanding public
education for all students, and their data-driven efforts have helped ensure that their students
leave with the tools and skills they need to be successful after graduation,” Thurmond stated in a
press release. “Our thanks go to the entire communities surrounding these schools, including the
teachers, administrators, and classified employees as well as the students and their families who,
through teamwork, all accomplished this impressive achievement together.”

Distinguished Schools represent examples of not just excellent teaching, learning, and
collaboration, but also highly successful, data-driven school efforts ranging from professional
development to positive behavior intervention, the state’s press release stated.

Congratulations, Early College High School teachers, staff and students!