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 Mountain Views News Saturday, March 2, 2024 

STATE SUPERINTENDENT TONY 
THURMOND ANNOUNCES 
2024 CALIFORNIA 
DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS 

 

Sierra Madre Middle School, South 
Pasadena Middle School, Duarte High 
School, Arcadia 1st Ave. Middle School 
and Monrovia Clifton Middle School 
Are Among the 293 schools selected 
statewide.

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today 
announced that 293 middle schools and high 
schools have been selected for the prestigious 
2024 California Distinguished Schools Program, 
California’s school recognition program that 
recognizes two categories of exceptional schools: 
those closing the achievement gap and those 
demonstrating exceptional student performance.

 

Since its inception in 1985, the California 
Distinguished Schools Award remains one of 
the state’s most important ways to celebrate 
exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and 
classified employees for their innovation, talent, 
and success in supporting students.

 

The exceptional middle and high schools 
recognized this year are illustrative of the 
persistence and promise of California’s 
students, educators, and schools. To select 
California Distinguished Schools, the California 
Department of Education (CDE) uses multiple 
measures to identify eligible schools based on 
their performance on the state indicators as 
specified on the California School Dashboard 
(Dashboard).

 

Specifically, schools were selected by analyzing 
data reported through the 2023 Dashboard, with 
a focus on demonstrating excellence and growth 
in academic achievement and ensuring a positive 
school climate.

 

Schools are recognized for exceptional student 
performance based on achieving exemplary 
performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and 
math, reducing suspensions, and demonstrating 
high graduation rates (high schools only).

 

Schools recognized for closing the achievement 
gap enroll at least 40 percent of their students 
from socioeconomically disadvantaged 
backgrounds and, in addition to demonstrating 
exemplary overall performance in ELA and 
math, achieve accelerated academic growth for 
one or more historically underserved student 
groups.

 

Information regarding the 2023 Dashboard 
is provided on the CDE California School 
Dashboard and System of Support web page.

 

“It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 
293 secondary schools for their efforts to provide 
exemplary public education to all students. 
Excellent middle schools and high schools play 
a critical role in the life outcomes of our young 
people,” Thurmond said. “This year’s California 
Distinguished Schools celebration provides us 
with an opportunity to recognize the hard work 
of our secondary educators and school staff who 
help our young adults discover passions and 
access college- and career-ready experiences that 
will propel them through life.”

 

The 2024 California Distinguished Schools, 
along with the 2023 National Blue Ribbon 
Schools, 2023 Civic Learning Award Schools, 
and 2023 and 2024 California Exemplary Dual 
Enrollment Award Schools, will be recognized 
at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 3, 
2024.

 

The California Distinguished Schools is an 
annual school recognition program of the 
California Department of Education. The list of 
293 schools for 2024 is below. Elementary schools 
and middle and high schools are recognized 
in alternate years; therefore, awardees hold the 
title for two years. For more information, please 
visit the CDE California Distinguished Schools 
Program web page.

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Alverno Heights Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 

Head of School: Joanne Harabedian

E-mail address: jharabedian@alvernoheights.org

Arcadia Christian School

1900 S. Santa Anita Avenue Arcadia, CA 91006

Preschool - TK - 8th Grade

626-574-8229/626-574-0805

Email:inquiry@acslions.com

Principal: Cindy Harmon

website: www.acslions.com

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca, 

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School

Ms. Rose Navarro, Principal

2660 East Orange Grove Blvd.

Pasadena, Ca 91107

626-793-2089

https://school.abvmpasadena.org/

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 

Head of School: Tonya Beilstein

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.org

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527 

Preschool-TK-8th Grade

Principal: Jonathon Hawes

website: www. bcslions.org

Clairbourn School

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172

FAX: 626-286-1528

E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 E. Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809

Principal: Nancy Lopez

www.foothilloaksacademy.org

office@foothilloaksacademy.org

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255

Head of School: Jenny Janetzke

Email: jenny@frostig.org

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410 

Head of School, Jo-Anne Woolner

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road 

Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

La Salle College Preparatory

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Interim Principal Ernest Siy

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Mathew Kodama

website: http://phs.pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Principal: Adela Solis (626) 355-6114 

solis@st-ritaschool.org

Website: www.st-ritaschool.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 

Principal: Dr. Jodi Marchesso

E-mail address: marchesso.jodi@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom

E-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166 

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

Arcadia Unified School District

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net

Monrovia Unified School District

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016

(626) 471-2000 

Website: www.monroviaschools.net

Duarte Unified School District

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010

(626)599-5000 

Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us

YOUTH BOOKMARK CONTEST 
SPONSORED BY THE SIERRA MADRE 
PUBLIC LIBRARY

Local students are invited to enter the popular annual 
Bookmark Contest in March 2024. This year’s theme is: 
“Sierra Madre Stories”.

Artwork may be designed with any tools but must be completely original work. Entries 
should showcase people, places, or things that depict stories related to reading or literacy 
in Sierra Madre. 

Winning entries will be displayed in the Library and winners will receive a certificate 
and cash prize at a ceremony in their honor. 

The contest is open to children in Kindergarten through 8th grade (including Transitional 
Kindergarten), who go to school in Sierra Madre, or live in Sierra Madre, or who have a 
Sierra Madre Public Library card.

Pick up your bookmark application at the Sierra Madre Public Library, on the Library 
website, and at schools in Sierra Madre starting March 4, 2024. Entries are due by April 
11, 2024 at the Library. 

For more information, contact Librarian Doreen Thomas dthomas@cityofsierramadre.
com 

Read, Discover, Connect @ Sierra Madre Public Library, 350 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra 
Madre, CA 91024, (626) 355-7186, www.cityofsierramadre.com/services/library


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com