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California Department of Education
News Release
California Department of Education
News Release
Release: #19-22
March 6, 2019
Contact: Communications
E-mail: communications@cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces
2019 Civic Learning Award Recipients

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 92 schools won this year’s Civic Learning Awards, which celebrate public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning. Now in its seventh year, the awards program is co-sponsored by Thurmond and Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.

These schools engage students in civic learning through unique classes, clubs, and programs preparing students for participation in democracy. The awards are designed to both celebrate successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and to identify successful models that can be replicated in other schools.

“Having had the chance to teach a civics class, and from my time working with students in the Legislature, I’m a huge supporter of engaging students in civics early, which helps to engage them for life,” said Thurmond. “It was fulfilling to work with students in the State Legislature, where every year I had students help write a bill with me. I would like to continue that work by asking students to share their ideas on new bills, such as keeping college affordable, school nutrition, and student housing.”

“I commend our schools and teachers for their creativity and commitment to civic education,” said Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye. “They are giving students the skills they will need as active participants and leaders in our democracy.”

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye visits schools receiving Awards of Excellence, the highest level, which include:

  • Flora Vista Elementary School in San Diego County, where students develop budgets and proposals for the school board on how to conserve energy in the classroom, organize to decrease trash and debris on their campus, and find solutions to help children in Africa obtain clean drinking water.

  • Lexington Junior High School in Orange County, where every eighth grader completes a project through which they learn about bias, study political propaganda, and participate in a mock election.

  • Cypress High School in Orange County, where students research and present a TED-style talk on a public issue, such as the vaccine debate. To prepare, students gather and evaluate evidence on all sides, interact with the community, and analyze related policy.

In addition to the Awards of Excellence, six schools received Awards of Distinction, and 83 schools received Awards of Merit. Launched at the Civic Learning California Summit External link opens in new window or tab. in 2013, the awards have recognized more than 300 schools. More information on the Civic Education Initiative is on the CDE’s Civic Education web page.

Below is a full list of the 2019 Civic Learning Award recipients:

Award School County

Excellence

Flora Vista Elementary School

San Diego County

Excellence

Lexington Junior High School

Orange County

Excellence

Cypress High School

Orange County

Distinction

Willard Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Distinction

La Costa Heights Elementary School

San Diego County

Distinction

Santiago Charter Middle School

Orange County

Distinction

South Junior High School

Orange County

Distinction

Savanna High School

Orange County

Distinction

Pacific High School

San Bernardino County

Merit

Roses in Concrete Community School

Alameda County

Merit

Amador High School

Amador County

Merit

Pleasant Valley High School

Butte County

Merit

Red Bank Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Cooper Academy

Fresno County

Merit

Freedom Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Jefferson Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Tarpey Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Quail Lake Charter School

Fresno County

Merit

Oraze Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Cole Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Dailey Elementary Charter School

Fresno County

Merit

Garfield Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Kastner Intermediate School

Fresno County

Merit

Maple Creek Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Century Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Virginia R. Boris Elementary

Fresno County

Merit

Fortuna Middle School

Humboldt County

Merit

Orangewood Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Sparks Middle School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Sunset Elementary and O.H. School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Culver City High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Bellflower High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Merlinda Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Monte Vista Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Merced Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Julia B. Morrison Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Vine Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Wescove Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

California Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Cameron Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Walnut Grove Intermediate School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Edgewood High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Redondo Union High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Ánimo Pat Brown Charter High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Hollencrest Middle School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Wittmann Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Goddard Middle School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Los Angeles Senior High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Evergreen Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Sierra Vista Middle School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Pomelo Community Charter School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Alhambra High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

El Segundo High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Carmenita Middle School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Willits Charter School

Mendocino County

Merit

Carmel High School

Monterey County

Merit

Vista Verde Middle School

Monterey County

Merit

Buena Vista Middle School

Monterey County

Merit

Brookhurst Junior High School

Orange County

Merit

Oxford Academy

Orange County

Merit

George B. Miller Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

John R. Peterson Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

Walker Junior High School

Orange County

Merit

Trabuco Mesa Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

Dale Junior High School

Orange County

Merit

Doig Intermediate School

Orange County

Merit

Fairhaven Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

Bolsa Grande High School

Orange County

Merit

Santa Ana High School

Orange County

Merit

Laguna Beach High School

Orange County

Merit

Barbara Chilton Middle School

Placer County

Merit

Carlin C. Coppin Elementary

Placer County

Merit

James Madison Elementary

Riverside County

Merit

Rio Americano High School

Sacramento County

Merit

Anzar High School

San Benito County

Merit

El Camino Elementary School

San Bernardino County

Merit

Sultana Sports & Science Academy

San Bernardino County

Merit

Colony High School

San Bernardino County

Merit

Vanguard Leadership Academy

San Bernardino County

Merit

Rancho Buena Vista High School

San Diego County

Merit

Crawford High School

San Diego County

Merit

De Portola Middle School

San Diego County

Merit

Del Lago Academy, Campus of Applied Sciences

San Diego County

Merit

Liberty Charter High School

San Diego County

Merit

Kairos Public Schools Vacaville Academy

Solano County

Merit

Joseph A. Gregori High School

Stanislaus County

Merit

Royal High School

Ventura County

Merit

Hollow Hills Fundamental School

Ventura County

Merit

Madera Elementary School

Ventura County

Merit

Adolfo Camarillo High School

Ventura County

Merit

Sinaloa Middle School

Ventura County


# # # #

Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

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