California Distinguished School Award
In 1985, CDE established the California Distinguished Schools Program as a method for recognizing schools who demonstrate exemplary achievements. The Program recognizes elementary and middle and high schools in alternate years. A list of Santa Clara County 2021 DS Awardees can be found below.
In 2022, the California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Program is being utilized by California in place of the California DS Program. Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, state law has suspended the reporting of state and local indicators on the 2020 and 2021 California School Dashboard (Dashboard).
Pivotal Practice Award Program Winners
On April 26, 2022 State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced the winners of the newly created 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Award Program. It celebrates schools and districts that implemented an innovative practice during the 2020–21 school year, when California required schools to offer distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 727 schools and 121 school districts are being honored for their demonstrated efforts to support students in four target areas: Student Engagement; Distribution of Technology; Nutrition Services; Social Emotional Well-Being. Below is a list of the Santa Clara County Schools & Districts award recipients.
2022 CAPP School District Awardees Santa Clara County |
Berryessa Union Elementary |
Campbell Union High |
Campbell Union |
Gilroy Unified |
Los Altos Elementary |
Luther Burbank |
Milpitas Unified |
Mountain View Whisman |
Saratoga Union Elementary |
2022 CAPP School Awardees Santa Clara County |
Campbell Union | Sherman Oaks Elementary |
East Side Union High | Evergreen Valley High |
Gilroy Unified | Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy |
Santa Clara | Rocketship Academy Brilliant Minds |
Santa Clara | Rocketship Alma Academy |
Santa Clara | Rocketship Discovery Prep |
Santa Clara | Rocketship Los Suenos Academy |
Santa Clara | Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Elementary |
Santa Clara | Rocketship Rising Stars |
Santa Clara | Rocketship Si Se Puede Academy |
Santa Clara | Sunrise Middle |
Union Elementary | Union Middle |
For a complete list of awardees across the state visit: 2022 CAPP SCHOOL Awardees and
2022 CAPP School DISTRICT Awardees.
Santa Clara County CA Distinguished School Awardees 2021 |
District | School |
Alum Rock Union Elementary School District | KIPP Heartwood Academy |
Berryessa Union | Morrill Middle School |
Campbell Union | Branham High |
Cupertino Union | Joaquin Miller Middle |
Cupertino Union | Sam H. Lawson Middle |
East Side Union High | Evergreen Valley High |
East Side Union High | KIPP San Jose Collegiate |
Franklin-McKinley School District | College Connection Academy |
Fremont Union High | Cupertino High |
Fremont Union High | Monta Vista High |
Milpitas Unified School District | Rancho Milpitas Middle |
SCCOE | University Preparatory Academy Charter |
A complete list of Awardees can be accessed @ CA Distinguished Schools Awardees 2021