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Across the Tri-Valley, 10 public schools were recognized this month by the California Department of Education for their exemplary student outcomes and instructional programs.
Alongside hundreds of winning campuses statewide, local recipients of the 2026 California Distinguished Schools award include two sites in the Pleasanton Unified School District, seven sites in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and one site in the Dublin Unified School District.
“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,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a statement March 10 announcing the awards. “This year’s California Distinguished Schools represent the hard work of our middle and high school educators and school staff, who provide our secondary students with life-changing educational opportunities.”
A total of 408 middle schools and high schools were recognized this year in California, home to the country’s largest public education system, according to a statement by CDE officials. No Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District schools made the list.
Within PUSD, Thomas S. Hart Middle School and Harvest Park Middle School were honored as distinguished schools.
Ed Diolazo, PUSD deputy superintendent of educational services, expressed pride in a statement for the students, staff and leadership at both middle schools.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our educators, the hard work of our students, and the strong partnership we share with families and our Pleasanton community,” Diolazo said.
Neighboring district SRVUSD received commendation for middle schools including Charlotte Wood, Diablo Vista, Iron Horse, Los Cerros, Pine Valley and Stone Valley as well as San Ramon Valley High School.
“Congratulations to the students and staff at these outstanding schools,” district officials wrote March 10 on social media. “We are proud to celebrate this prestigious honor and the incredible teaching and learning happening across all SRVUSD campuses every day.”
Additionally, Fallon Middle School in Dublin was named a 2026 California Distinguished School.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of Fallon’s teachers, staff, students and families, whose commitment to learning and innovation continues to create outstanding opportunities for students every day,” DUSD officials wrote on social media.
Although the winning schools were not publicly recognized for their specific achievements, award categories this year focused on high academic achievement for all students, accelerating academic progress for at least two groups of historically underserved students as well as multiple students’ high performance at schools serving rural or Title I communities.
Eligibility for all categories was based on metrics from the statewide, public school accountability system dubbed the California School Dashboard. This year’s distinguished schools were determined using data from the 2025 dashboard.
The winning campuses will be celebrated April 24 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim along with awardees of other statewide recognitions.
