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California Department of Education
News Release
California Department of Education
News Release
Release: #20-11
March 12, 2020
Contact: Communications
E-mail: communications@cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2020 Civic Learning Award Recipients

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 75 schools won this year’s Civic Learning Awards, which celebrate public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning. Now in its eighth 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 strong civics curriculum in school and service-learning projects in their communities. 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.

“As a passionate supporter of civics, I’m so proud of these schools for engaging students in civics early, which helps engage them for life,” said Thurmond. “During my time both as a civics teacher and in the State Legislature, I've always encouraged students to get involved. My office continues to be open for students to share their ideas on new bills on whatever issues affect them, anything from keeping college affordable to student housing.”

“Congratulations to this year’s Civic Learning Award recipients,” said Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye. “They serve as models for all schools to promote the importance of civic education and engagement for all students.”

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

  • La Costa Heights Elementary School in San Diego County, where fifth graders picked a state bill to research and advocate for with their state legislators. Students chose to focus on pay equity with Assembly Bill 271 and presented their findings and recommendations to lawmakers. Students also helped design and install 40 environmentally friendly drop boxes in the community for voters to cast absentee ballots. The school has received the Award of Distinction and the Award of Merit in previous years. This is the first year it received the Award of Excellence.
  • South Junior High School in Orange County, where students prepare and deliver two-minute “soapbox” speeches that include a call to action on issues of importance, such as the death penalty, gun laws, and college tuition. They later deliver their speeches before a panel of local judges. The school also created its own “Soapbox Night,” giving students the opportunity to present issues they are passionate about in a public platform.
  • Savanna High School in Orange County, where all students participate in the Raising Student Voice and Participation program at Savanna High School. Over the course of a year, each class identifies and seeks solutions to a problem on campus. In Economics classes, students use Google Maps to choose a vacant lot and create a video to pitch a valuable project for the community. Government class students can train as poll workers, and many work 15-hour shifts on Election Day.

In addition to the three Awards of Excellence schools, six schools received the Award of Distinction, which will be presented personally by members of the judiciary. This year’s Award of Distinction schools are:

  • Park Dale Lane Elementary, San Diego County
  • San Marino Elementary, Orange County
  • Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Middle/High School Charter, Sacramento County
  • Walker Junior High, Orange County
  • Pacific High School, San Bernardino County
  • Loara High School, Orange County

In addition to the top nine schools, 66 schools received the Award of Merit.

Below is a full list of the 2020 Civic Learning Award recipients.

Award School Name County

Excellence

La Costa Heights Elementary School

San Diego County

Excellence

Savanna High School

Orange County

Excellence

South Junior High School

Orange County

Distinction

Loara High School

Orange County

Distinction

Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Middle/High School Charter

Sacramento County

Distinction

Pacific High School

San Bernardino County

Distinction

Park Dale Lane Elementary

San Diego County

Distinction

San Marino Elementary School

Orange County

Distinction

Walker Junior High

Orange County

Merit

Tice Creek School

Contra Costa County

Merit

Century Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Cole Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Copper Hills Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Dry Creek Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Fort Washington Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Freedom Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Fresno High School

Fresno County

Merit

Garfield Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Maple Creek Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Red Bank Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Riverview Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Roger S. Oraze Elementary

Fresno County

Merit

Tarpey Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Virginia R. Boris Elementary School

Fresno County

Merit

Fortuna Middle School

Humboldt County

Merit

Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Animo Pat Brown Charter High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Carmenita Middle School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Center Street School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Diamond Point Elementary

Los Angeles County

Merit

Eastman Avenue Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Highland High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Julia B. Morrison Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Lancaster High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Orange Grove Middle School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Suzanne Middle School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Walnut Grove Intermediate School

Los Angeles County

Merit

William Workman High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Wittmann (Helen) Elementary School

Los Angeles County

Merit

Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School

Los Angeles County

Merit

R. M. Miano Elementary School

Merced County

Merit

Everett Alvarez High School

Monterey County

Merit

Salinas High School

Monterey County

Merit

Anaheim High School

Orange County

Merit

Ball Junior High School

Orange County

Merit

Brookhurst Junior High School

Orange County

Merit

Buena Terra Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

Chapman Hills Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

Dale Junior High School

Orange County

Merit

Garden Grove High School

Orange County

Merit

George B. Miller Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

John F. Kennedy High School

Orange County

Merit

Katella High School

Orange County

Merit

Los Coyotes Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

Orangeview Junior High

Orange County

Merit

Oxford Academy

Orange County

Merit

Raymond Temple Elementary School

Orange County

Merit

Santiago Charter Middle School

Orange County

Merit

Sycamore Junior High School

Orange County

Merit

Western High School

Orange County

Merit

Anaheim High School

Orange County

Merit

Ball Junior High School

Orange County

Merit

Chaparral High School

Riverside County

Merit

Clearwater Elementary STEAM

Riverside County

Merit

Hiram W. Johnson High School

Sacramento County

Merit

Natomas Charter School

Sacramento County

Merit

Rio Americano High School

Sacramento County

Merit

Alta Loma High School

San Bernardino County

Merit

El Camino Elementary School

San Bernardino County

Merit

Rancho Cucamonga High School

San Bernardino County

Merit

Liberty Charter High School

San Diego County

Merit

Design Tech High School

San Mateo County

Merit

Hester High School

Santa Clara County

Merit

Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy

Solano County

Merit

Madera Elementary School

Ventura County

# # # #

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

Last Reviewed: Thursday, June 20, 2024
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