EDUCATION AND YOUTH 

7

Mountain View News Saturday, April 5, 2025

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

ARCADIA UNIFIED’S CAMINO GROVE AND 
LONGLEY WAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS NAMED 

2025 CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS

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

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: Dr. Eric Barba

website: http://phs.pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

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

Principal: Jon McMaster (626) 355-6114 

mcmaster@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


Arcadia Unified School District elementary 
schools, Camino Grove and Longley Way, 
join a coveted list of less than 3.5% of public 
elementary schools from across the state to 
earn recognition from the California Department 
of Education (CDE) as a 2025 California 
Distinguished School. This annual recognition 
program honors schools that close the 
achievement gap and demonstrate exceptional 
student performance. 

"We are beyond thrilled to celebrate two of 
our elementary schools receiving this exclusive 
honor,” Arcadia Unified Superintendent 
Dr. David Vannasdall said. “I’m incredibly 
proud of all of our principals, teachers, students, 
staff, and parents who really work together 
in so many innovative ways to help our 
children thrive in school each day.”

The California Department of Education explained 
that its process in selecting schools to 
be recognized in this year’s program included 
analyzing data reported through the 2024 
Dashboard, with a focus on demonstrating 
excellence and growth in academic achievement 
and ensuring a positive school climate.

"Being named a California Distinguished 
School is a tremendous honor. I am deeply 
grateful for the tireless dedication of our staff 
and school community. The unwavering commitment 
to building a community of learners 
and leaders is reflected by this recognition,” 
Longley Way Principal Lorie Felippa shared. 
“Together, we will continue to cultivate a positive 
school environment, empowering each 
Lion to thrive.”

“Receiving the California Distinguished 
School award is a true honor and a reflection 
of the collective effort it takes to impact 
all students. From our Board of Education to 
our dedicated school site teams and parents, 
it’s an all-hands-on-deck approach—refining 
core instruction, embracing continuous 
learning, and partnering with our students 
and families. I’m proud to do this meaningful 
work with the AUSD community,” Camino 
Grove Principal Dr. Renee Costarella said. 

“Our theme this year is “Celebrating Healthy 
Partnerships,” and we are excited to continue 
collaborating to create cutting-edge, safe, and 
innovative learning environments that align 
with the exceptional teaching and learning 
taking place at all of our campuses,” Dr. Vannasdall 
said in reflecting on this recognition.

Since the California Department of Education 
(CDE) founded the California Distinguished 
Schools program in 1985, every Arcadia Unified 
elementary and middle school has been 
named a California Distinguished School at 
least once. Most recently, First Avenue Middle 
School received this prestigious honor. Additionally, 
all six of Arcadia Unified’s elementary 
schools—Baldwin Stocker, Camino Grove, 
Highland Oaks, Holly Avenue, Hugo Reid, 
and Longley Way—as well as Arcadia Unified’s 
alternative learning program, Rancho 
Learning Center, earned historic concurrent 
recognition in 2023.

Arcadia Unified continues to solidify its position 
as a beacon of educational excellence, 
once again being ranked in the top 1% of 
school districts and best places to teach across 
America according to Niche's 2025 rankings.

The California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes 
elementary schools and middle and high schools in alternate 
years, which means honorees hold their California 
Distinguished School title for two years. 

Longley Way staff on the first day of the 2024-25 school year


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