The San Marino Unified School District is proud to announce that Huntington Middle School and San Marino High School have been recognized as 2026 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education.
The California Distinguished Schools Program, established in 1985, is one of the state’s most prestigious honors for public schools. The recognition celebrates schools that demonstrate exceptional student achievement and strong academic outcomes for all students.
Schools receive the Distinguished School designation based on performance indicators from the 2025 California School Dashboard, which is the state’s accountability system for public schools.
Eligibility for the California Distinguished Schools honor is determined by several measures, including academic performance, graduation rates, college- and career-readiness indicators, and strong participation in statewide assessments. Schools must also demonstrate positive school climate indicators, including low suspension rates and strong student engagement.
The honored schools will be formally recognized at the California Distinguished Schools Awards Ceremony on April 24, 2026, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, where educators and school leaders from across the state will gather to celebrate their achievements.