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 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

Last Reviewed: Friday, June 21, 2024

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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2019 Civic Learning Award Recipients

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces
2019 Civic Learning Award Recipients